The Sacred Hill of Crosses is a hill located 12 km from the city of Siauliai. The total number of crosses that are here exceeds 50 thousand, but nevertheless this is not a cemetery at all.
The mountain of crosses is located on the site of an ancient settlement, and according to legend, in order to find good luck in life, you need to leave a cross here. Until now, no one can say in what century exactly this strange place appeared, and even more so it is impossible to explain the nature of the mysterious exchange of crosses for the favor of Fortune, but every year thousands of people make a kind of pilgrimage on this hill.
According to legend, a monastery once stood on the hill, for reasons not mentioned, which fell into the ground. One of the villagers, who was a little further away, had a seriously ill daughter. Local healers could not help in any way and the father of the sick woman decided to put an end to the prayer place. After a few days, the child was completely recovered.
After that, the rumor spread that the place has miraculous powers that can heal even hopeless patients. The hill very quickly grew with crosses, and there was less and less free space for new symbols of health and happiness. Since the time when space was left only for narrow paths, new large crosses began to be dug in between the old ones, and small ones were attached to higher ones.
Some researchers believe that before the baptism of Lithuania in the XIV century, there was a pagan temple on this hill. Traditions, which now resemble only vestiges of the past, were carefully passed down from generation to generation and have survived to this day, forming a "folk religion". Only this term can explain the erection of Catholic crosses in the place where pagan rituals were once held.
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According to this version, the Hill of Crosses is the same age as Lithuanian Catholicism. An interesting fact is an indirect confirmation of this theory. The carved ornament of classical Lithuanian crosses has little in common with Christian symbolism, but there are many similarities with the symbolism of the pagan cult.
In the 20th century, several attempts were made to destroy this place in order to end the pagan pilgrimage. The crosses were mercilessly demolished and taken away in an unknown administration, but each time the believers brought new ones and set them up on the hill.
Nowadays, on the shrine hill, there are crosses of various types: from huge wooden ones, up to several meters high, to small pectoral crosses, the clusters of which are hung with larger crosses.
Among this multitude there are also unique handmade items, decorated with an original pattern, metal edging, or even made from scrap materials.
On September 7, 1993, during his visit to Lithuania, Pope John Paul II even installed a crucifix here. Thanks to this action, the Hill of Crosses, well known in the ranks of Catholics, gained popularity throughout the world. The number of pilgrims and tourists has increased several times.
Now people visit this place for happiness, regardless of religious views, because everyone wants to become a little more lucky, thereby bringing their cherished dream one step closer.