Although I decided to take part in this a whole year ago, Most of my costume was lent for me. Only the boar skin was my own – it was lying next to my bed :). Even though the festival didn‘t pamper us with good weather, only the tournament final take place the second day, because the no spectators gathered fearing the rain, my boar skin did its job – the fur protected from the water really well... Sorry, went a little of the track.

The festival began by walking the town streets. In its first row two Great Danes walked with pride held by a princess (my daughter Kotryna) and your humble servant pretending to be a medieval forester, or whatever they were called those days (me). „Looks at those dogs“ – people talked with astonishment while stepping away from out way. After taking some clips and photos in front of Trakai castle we went back to the peninsula castle. It started raining while we we‘re walking back. Despite the rain we brought back a crowd of spectators, who I hope stayed for the day. The spectators were greeted by trades people, who were selling their medieval goods, and a medieval tavern with beer, but with no fries (Columbus only brought potatoes to Europe in 16th century), lots of wooden funfair, targets to try out your eagle eye with a bow and horses to ride... In short, you could see a lot, do a lot and eat a lot. While the knights were preparing for the tournament beautiful ladies spun around in a medieval dance rhythm and taught some moves to the crowd.

We got caught by the Lithuanian national TV reporters. I had to tell the history of Great Danes and why they can participate in this festival. There was an exhibition of weaponry and amour of the time in a tent, where everybody could try to put on some chain mail or a helmet of a knight, rise his hand with a sword or an poleaxe. Most took the chance and made a photo with their loved ones. Marking the start of the tournament a canon blast thundered. There was a lot to see; Noble knights from Italy, fierce German barons, greats from Poland, the “Friendhood” from Belarus and of course our oaks Lithuanians. When the tournament semifinals and boghurt (5v5 tournament) ended the culmination of the festival took its turn – an assault of a wooden castle.

pilies šturmas

Assault of the castle.

Canons are thundering, swords are clashing, and Formations of heavily armored elite Lithuanian warriors attack the crusader fortification. Like waves slash at the shore, Lithuanians slash and fall at the gates of the castle. The gates finally fall and the victory seems to be not so far away. The Crusader warlord seeing the situation understands – its either death or victory. He rallies the defenders of the castle to stand in the final combat. Knights and city folk, everybody, who can hold a sword or an axe in their hands. The hopes of Lithuanians fall – they must retreat. Defenders celebrate their victory. “We will return the next year” – the Lithuanian warlord shouts. The darkness falls. The crowd begins to thin out and they must return once again as the fire dancers light their fires. Soon the fire is stalked out, the music stops. An owl hoots… was this all a dream…

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