Lithuanian Bathing Culture and Plants Summer Camp

Date: 2023-05-25, 13:00
Organizer : Lithuanian Bath Academy

Deep and intense 3-days experience, connecting with Lithuanian bathing culture, nature and plants.  

Moments from our seminars about plants

May 25. Plants and herbal products in Lithuanian pirtis. Theorethical presentation about the most common trees and herbs, used in Lithuanian pirtis. Preparing and practical testing in sauna various herbal products and methods. 

May 26. Trees and whisks. Practical workshop in fields and forrests. Plant identification, collecting plants for whisks. Making whisks. Theorethical presentation about plants Lithuanian mythology. Practical part in sauna - testing different whisks. Plant rituals. 

May 27. Living history of Lithuanian pirtis. Theorethical presentation about Lithuanian pirtis history and culture. Heating the recreated replica of XIV century smoke sauna in the Kernavė open air museum. Making whisk in the Medieval way. Guided excursion to the museum. Practical experience in smoke heated pirtis - Medieval bathing. 

More information will come soon! Any questions are welcome.

Contact persons:

Rimas Kavaliauskas, email - rimas@pirtis.lt, Phone/WhatsApp +370 687 11601
Birutė Masiliauskienė, email - registracija@pirtis.lt, PhoneWhatsapp +370 689 56969 

Themes covered

• Advanced sauna ethnobotany

  This is an advanced module for sauna practitioners, wellness instructors, and plant enthusiasts wishing to develop a more in-depth knowledge of plants used in Lithuanian pirtis. We explore the details of how various trees and herbs are selected, harvested, processed, and applied in sauna ceremonies and treatments—drawing from folk medicine, plant science, and field practice.

  The course focuses on the cultural significance of and physiologic influence of plants within the sauna environment.

  This theme has additional information available only to logged in users.
• Introduction to sauna plants

  Step into the fragrant world of the Lithuanian steam bath, where plants are not just decoration—they are inherent to the sensory, therapeutic, and ritualistic character of the pirtis. In this introductory course, students become acquainted with the overall types of herbal preparations utilized in sauna culture: whisks, infusions, decoctions, fragrant extracts, and more.

  You'll learn how sauna plants have been used traditionally to promote health and mood—from calming herbal teas to fragrant brooms hung over the hot bench.

  This theme has additional information available only to logged in users.
• Making whisks

  Practical theme, which includes:

  • collecting and preparing twigs;
  • types of whisks;
  • ways of making whisks;
  • quality requirments;
  • conservation of whisks.
• Mythology of trees and herbs

  Theoretical theme, which reveals hidden properties of mostly used trees and herbs.

  Traditional Lithuanian culture and mythology has very strong connections to the nature. Lithuanians were the lasts pagans in Europe, old knowledges, bealieves and worldview are still a part of everyday life. Understanding plants mythologyand hidden properties of plants are very heplful in rithual saunas or individual work. 

  Some topics of this theme:

  • Male and female plants. Reincarnation to the plants.
  • Heaven and underworld plants. Divine play of the opposites.
  • World three.
  • Mythology of the most common plants of Lithuanian pirtis (oak, birtch, linden, juniper, rowan, willow, bird-cherry, pine, spruce, ash etc.).
• Preparing of plant remedies

  Practical theme, which includes:

  • collecting and preparing herbal material;
  • decoctions, cold and hot infusions;
  • hydrosoils and distilation;
  • other herbal remedies.

  This theme has additional information available only to logged in users.
• Recognising plants

  Excursion to the nature, looking for the plants to be used in sauna. Collecting herbs and branches for whisks. Rules of collecting plants.

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• Rituals with plants in sauna

  Having different whisks and knowing their physical and hidden qualities, we can create special body rithuals or whisking scenarios.

• Use of plants and whiskmaking

Birutė Masiliauskienė and Rimas Kavaliauskas

The place

The event will take place in a center of roural tourism Kernavės Bajorynė, ~1 km from Kernavė town.

Kernavė is a small town located on the right bank of the Neris River, 35 km from Vilnius, and in the past it was one of the first centers of the Lithuanian state (13th century). The legendary Pajauta Valley and its five mounds guard the remains of the last European pagan capital. Since 2004 Kernavė Archaeological Site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read more here.

How to reach the venue?

Kervavė is located ~70 km from Kaunas Airport and ~50 km from Vilnius Airport. You can reach it by a rented car or by bus (check the schedule here). If you need our help, we can arrange transfer from Vilnius and Kaunas - let us know in advance.

Accomodation and food

Accomodation (3 nights) and breakfast are included into the price of the camp. We offfer you stay in small wooden houses, Each house is two-storeyed, consisting of two parts. Each part has a separate entrance. There is a possibility to accomodate up to 5 persons in each of the parts, with an additional availability to accomodate up to 3 persons in single beds in each of the parts.

• Fireplace
• Refrigerator
• Microwave oven
• Electric cord kettle
• TV
• 2 WCs
• Shower cabin
• Hair dryer
• Comfortable single or double beds 

The homestead can offer other accomodation options (e.g. if you want to come earlier or leave later, come with your family, want a separated room etc.). In such case, please, contact them directly. Contacts are here. Choosing other accomodation options won't change the price of the training.

You can choose to make food on your own, have it in a cafee (there are a few places in Kernavė) or we can offer dinner in the homestead (10€ / person / day). Vegetarian/non-vegetarian options are available. Please, inform us in advance your decision.