Weather vanes are colorful wooden markers that once adorned the masts of fishermen’s sailboats on the Curonian Lagoon. They not only beautified the boats but also served practical and symbolic purposes.
In the mid-19th century, weather vanes were initially used as markers for fishing permits. Based on their colors and shapes, it was possible to identify which village on the shore of the Curonian Lagoon a fisherman came from and in which part of the lagoon he was permitted to fish. Each village had its own flag with specific colors—a sort of coat-of-arms system. Later, as fishing practices evolved, they became symbols of culture and identity. Fishermen adorned the tops of the weather vanes with various details, and the meanings of these shapes were associated with the winds, water, family happiness, and success.
Today, weather vanes are one of the most distinctive symbols of the region of Lithuania Minor and the Curonian Lagoon, preserving the memory of ancient fishing traditions, the wisdom of the fishermen, and their connection to nature.