Herbalists Earn on Žolinė: Some Sell Hundreds of Bouquets in Palanga

In the Lithuanian seaside resort town of Palanga, sisters Aurelija and Birutė have set up shop in the local market, but their offerings extend beyond vegetables and cheese. For the Žolinė holiday, they brought nearly 500 meticulously crafted bouquets of local herbs and flowers.

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We made almost 500 this year, we came with 7 boxes.

"We made almost 500 this year, we came with 7 boxes," Birutė told "Delfi." The sisters, along with an extra pair of hands, worked from Thursday to prepare the bundles, carefully selecting plants like wormwood, yarrow, and St. John's wort, which are traditionally associated with the holiday.

Their pricing strategy was unique: they asked for voluntary donations rather than setting fixed prices. "People ask how much it costs? We don't really know how to set a price, so we say – for a donation," Birutė explained. While some customers generously offered up to 3 euros, others left just cents, and some received bouquets for free if they couldn't afford even a euro. The sisters also donated some bouquets to the church.

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People ask how much it costs? We don't really know how to set a price, so we say – for a donation.

Nearby, another vendor offered larger bouquets for 2 euros each. She emphasized that her participation was less about profit and more about the joy of connecting with nature and sharing her creations during the holiday. Meanwhile, Aušra from Panevėžys approached Žolinė with a creative flair, drawing on her background as a folk artist and educator.

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We collect all the plants that should be in a bouquet for Žolinė. Wormwood, mugwort, tansy, yarrow, St. John's wort, rowan, we always add a bell, and sometimes some other flower.