Festa e Motmotit!
Dita e luleve!
Festa e Shen Gjergjit!
The Day of Flowers!
Feast of St. George!
A throwback to a pagan festival that evolved into a Catholic holiday (sound familiar?😏)
Dita e luleve, or The Day of Flowers, celebrates the fecundity and beauty of Spring. Comparable to the Gaelic May Day festival Beltane, Dita e Luleve is an Albanian holiday that has reemerged in recent years as a popular celebration. Young and old partake in the festivities that span the course of two days, May 5th to May 6th.
On the morning of the first day of this celebration, children go out to gather flowers. From these bouquets, handmade garlands are woven and the homes are decorated with them, in the hope that the fruitfulness of these blossoms will manifest into abundance throughout the coming year. A bath with flowers, coins, eggs and other symbolic items is drawn for the children, in the belief that these will aid in their growing up healthy, wealthy, beautiful and strong. The phrase, “uji teposhtë, fëmiu përpjetë” (“the water goes down, and the child grows up”) is chanted. Outdoor games are played and overall merriment ensues.
Hithra, or stinging nettles play an important role in these festivities. They represent protection, growth, bounty and have long been associated with healthy blood. Nettles are collected and children are “chased” and “brushed” with them (just a tap, after all they’re called STINGING nettles for a reason 😆). Food, lush with greenery, is served and the outdoors are enjoyed to their fullest extent. Bonfires are lit, lambs are sacrificed and their shoulder blades are used for divination purposes (every pregnant woman needs their “fortune” told, after all and this is the opportune time to have it done!).
The next day, before sunrise, girls gather dew from grapevines and the haircutting ceremony begins. This takes place near a river or other body of water with the belief that the girls’ hair will grow as long as the waves of the river and as thick and strong as the grape vines. Once their hair is cut, it is coated with the dew and the girls commence their traditional songs and dances, dressed in their finest clothing.
As is the case with most pagan holidays throughout the world, these celebrations have evolved over time with the introduction of Christianity. The Balkans are no different. Today, in lieu of calling this holiday “Dita e Luleve,” the more popular term is “Dita e Shen Gjergjit” (St. George’s Day). Interestingly enough, this coincides with the birthday of the Albanian national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti (May 6th). This led to the conflation among some Albanians that St. George’s Day is actually a celebration of the hero Gjergj Kastrioti, not St. George the dragonslayer.
In any case, this springtime festival remains a staple among Albanians across the Balkans. It is a time to rejoice and celebrate, to revel in the sunshine and enjoy life.
