Behind the Masks: What Lithuania’s Shrovetide Festival Reveals About Cultural Identity and Sovereignty

In the quiet village of Rumsiskes, Lithuania, traditional masks and folk costumes come alive each year during Shrovetide, a pre-Lenten festival that signals not just the end of winter but a deeper cultural statement. While these colorful celebrations might seem like mere folklore to some, they represent an essential bulwark against the relentless tide of global homogenization threatening national sovereignty across Europe—and by extension, America's own battle for cultural preservation. Why Do Traditions Like Shrovetide Matter in a Rapidly Changing World? The images from February 14th show revelers dancing and burning an effigy symbolizing winter’s end—ancient rituals passed through generations....