Christmas inLithuania

Christmas is one of the most beautiful holidays of the year. Every country that celebrates Christmas has their traditions and habits. Lithuania is no exception.

From the 1st of December until Christmas in Lithuania advent is celebrated – time of peace, seriousness, calmness, tranquility and rest. According to the elders, during advent, spirits from another world are trying to step in people’s lives. Symbol of advent is the wreath with four candles.

The traditional Advent

wreath

Kūčios draws the family members closer, banding everyone together and strengthening the family ties. If a family member can‘t attend the meal for really serious reasons or has died that year, an empty place is left at the table for him or her. A plate is still placed on the table and a chair is drawn up, but no spoons, knives or forks are set. A small candle is placed on the plate and lit during the meal. It is believed that the spirit of the deceased family member participates in the Kūčiosalong with everyone. Maybe it seems a little bit creepy, but it‘s tradition.

The traditional Christmas Eve table

Dinner starts when the first star appears in the sky. Before the meal starts, the family shares kalėdaitis. A plate with as many wafers as there are persons participating in the meal is placed in the center of the table. Each member of the family is given a piece of unleavened bread.

On the table must be 12 dishes (one for each of Jesus's followers) and you must taste them all, although just a little bit. There can be no meat, dairy, or hot food. Traditional and popular dishes include fish, kūčiukai (small sweet pastries) normally soaked in poppy milk, kisielius (a drink made from cranberries), dried fruit soup, beet soup (often with mushroom filled dumplings in it), vegetable salad, mushrooms, boiled or baked potatoes, sauerkraut, a kind of wheat porridge with honey and bread. Normally water or homemade cider is drunk with the meal.

The traditional Christmas Eve

cookies (Kūčiukai)

After the meal, everyone leaves the table to go to sleep or the midnight mass, known as the Shepherds’ Mass. The food is left to stand overnight. It is believed that the spirits of deceased relatives or loved ones will visit the home during the night and the table set with food would make them feel welcome. It was believed that the baby Jesus allows the souls of all the departed to return to earth to visit their families.

The Christmas day in Lithuania is same as in all Europe. We just eat lunch or dinner with family members, cousins, aunts, uncles, exchange gifts, watch Christmas films (especially Home Alone, it‘s like a tradition to watch this film at evening) ant etc. In Lithuanian Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Linksmų Kalėdų'.