Hill of Crosses, Lithuania.

Hill of Crosses is a pilgrimage site located 12 kilometers north of Siauliai, Lithuania. The actual origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is unknown, however it is thought that the first crosses were set after the 1831 Uprising on the former hill fort Jurgaiciai or Domantai. Catholic pilgrims have brought not just crosses and crucifixes, but also figurines of the Virgin Mary, sculptures of Lithuanian patriots, and thousands of small effigies and rosaries. It is unknown how many crossings there are. It is a significant Catholic pilgrimage site in Lithuania.The wind makes the hanging rosaries chime, providing a swaying accompaniment for statues of saints and portraits of beloved local patriots. Despite numerous attempts to demolish it, this peculiar pilgrimage site remains a powerful symbol of devotion. The history of the Hill of Crosses is laced with legends and stories. The first written mention of the crosses dates from 1850, but others believe they were placed there earlier by mourning relatives of those killed in riots against the Russian authority in 1831 and 1863. It was banned to memorialize the dead with proper burial in cemeteries because the tsar crushed national identity by limiting religious expression.Many say the crosses appeared around the end of the nineteenth century, when a vision of the Virgin Mary cradling the newborn Jesus requested that the faithful cover the sanctuary with these…