Dzūkija (or Dainava, Land of Songs) is spa country, with health resorts scattered throughout the region. The land is somewhat infertile, but covered with beautiful, dense forests where mushroom and berry picking are hobbies and businesses for many locals, who sell their fresh-pick from their cars on the side of the road. There are also a lot of bugs, and after spending an afternoon and evening outdoors in the southern resort town of Druskininkai at a wedding reception during one of my summer visits, I found my shoulders and legs covered with so many bug bites, I was afraid people would think I had the measles! In Dzūkija, people are known for their optimism and for preserving older traditions.

In 2009, I was honored to be invited to attend a wedding in Dzūkija. From the church, to a picnic on the river, to the reception at a Sodyba (country lodge), every moment was full of joy and beauty, and a celebration of nature, love, and life. These gloves, knit in bamboo rather than the traditional linen, remind me of that lovely wedding on a warm, sunny, summer day.