There are plenty of unique traditions that every Lithuanian can relate to, some of which are centuries old. Tripsavvy uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Christmas in Lithuania At Christmas time in Lithuania it is very cold, normally with snow and ice on the ground. Lithuanians always prefer to have snow during the Christmas holiday. It is important to have a clean house before the Christmas Eve because, as my mother used to say, if … Lithuanians may appear calm and cold-blooded, but they can show truly violent emotions. ˈkuːtɕɔs) or kūtės (samogitian dialect) is the traditional christmas eve dinner in lithuania, held on the twenty fourth of december. Traditional drink is called Kisielius, a thick drink made from cranberries, sugar and potato starch (to add the thickness). LITHUANIAN CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS : CHRISTMAS EVE and CHRISTMAS [ a.k.a. Even though we cannot travel and visit our relatives, this may be a perfect opportunity to create and nurture holiday traditions with the closest family. 1. CHRISTMAS EVE-KŪČIOS Christmas Eve is on 24th of December. -The tradition says that an empty plate should be left on the dinner table for family … Supper on Christmas Eve " Kûèios", the oldest Lithuanian feast, celebrated according to the sun's calendar. And that says a lot, since we have been celebrating the winter solstice ever since we were pagans. Worldwide Christmas traditions meet in Lithuania Eglutes kambarys Source: 15min. On the night of Christmas Eve, you might hear sleigh bells ringing over snowy country roads and frozen lakes. The whole family gets together to eat at least 12 vegetarian dishes. Almost every house in Lithuania has a Christmas tree decorated with garlands and lights. The traditional Christmas celebration is a combination of Christian and pagan customs. Lithuanian Christmas traditions are a combination of old and new and Christian and pagan, and they have similarities with traditions from the other two Baltic nations, as well as with the traditions of Poland, whose past is linked with Lithuania's. Christmas traditions in Lithuania are very similar to some other countries, especially the Baltic nations and Poland. Sarunas Svegzda/EyeEm/Getty Images. The most important dish of the evening … However, there seems to be something about this holiday that inspires even those who aren’t particularly religious to go to Mass. The decorations here are breathtaking! The Baltic States and the End of the Soviet Empire , 1993. Traditional Lithuanian Christmas Eve Dinner : Christmas Traditions In Lithuania True Lithuania : Christmas day and christmas dinner is very much a family occasion and people often invite an santa claus comes on christmas eve.. Christmas eve, or kūčios, is … To date, I am not sure what the Western star is, but the twelve dish rule is generally much easier to observe :) Almost every house in Lithuania has a Christmas tree decorated with garlands and lights. Lithuanian christmas eve dinner has old traditions and usually there are 12 dishes served. Christmas Eve Traditions in Lithuania; celebrating the magic. Even the grumpiest people have smiles on their faces and forget about the cold weather and short days. The first dish must be wafers that are prepared using the same recipe as wafers received at Holy Communion in church. Also, Lithuanians believe that animals start talking at midnight on Christmas Eve, so don’t be surprised if you see locals spying on their pets. If you are visiting Lithuania by any chance nearing Christmas, do visit the Vilnius Town Hall Square for the grand Christmas tree. Not overeating on Christmas is not possible, no matter where you are in the world. The breaking of religious wafers precedes the meal. Shutterstock photo. Emigration is quite a social problem in Lithuania, as many people have left the country to look for a better life abroad, especially since joining the European Union. Lithuanians are crazy about Christmas and everything that comes with this wonderful holiday! • Christman Eve determines what kind of year it is going to be. But everyone, honestly, everyone in Lithuania is dreaming of a white Christmas! The practice of decorating the Christmas tree is relatively new to Lithuania, though evergreen branches have long been used to bring color to homes during the long winter. Winter holidays is the time when some are tingling with impatience and others pretend not to care. Single people find out when they will meet their other half by pulling straws from beneath the table (there is no data about the efficiency of this spell, though). Some traditions are no longer widespread and usually we just enjoy dinner with relatives and friends while the main events and festivities are left for Christmas Day. Christmas Traditions in Lithuania involves decorating the Christmas tree with lots of colorful objects and decorative. Various traditional games are still played on Christmas Eve – for example, after the dinner whoever pulls the longest straw from under the tablecloth will live the longest. One thing is for sure, though—Christmas in Lithuania would not be complete without them! Santa is in da house Ho Ho Ho!!! But on Christmas, many come back to spend the holiday with their families, as everyone gathers together from all over the world to celebrate and appreciate each other’s company. Christmas Eve dinner table #kūčios #christmaseve #lithuanianchristmas #vilnius #kucios #kuciustalas #12dishes #12patiekalu #lithuania #kaledos #food #christmasfood #vsco #vscocam #christmas #christmas2016, A post shared by D A L I A (@daliavalanciute) on Dec 24, 2016 at 10:37am PST. #kaledueglute #kaleduegle #kaunas #rotuse #ziema, A post shared by Eva Andri Photography (@evaandriphoto) on Dec 20, 2015 at 6:30am PST. Lithuania celebrates the Christmas Eve tradition in a similar way to other European countries, but there are few singularities that make this night a magical one for Lithuanians. How Do People Celebrate Christmas in Slovakia? Girnius, Kestutis. Whereas in Lithuania, a more detailed picture can be formed only from ethnographic descriptions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today Lithuanians observe Christmas Eve with a ceremonial evening meal, fortune-telling games, and attendance at Midnight Mass, which is referred to as the Shepherd’s Mass (see also shepherds). The meal which is served on that day should be prepared in advance. Well, in Lithuania, daylight only lasts for eight hours or so in winter, and the cold sets in quickly, so many Lithuanians consider mulled wine a winter staple. They can decorate Christmas trees or be used as decoration for other parts of the house. In pagan Lithuania, the Christmas celebration as we know it today was actually the celebration of the winter solstice. We all know that Santa Claus actually exists, but he has a lot of kids to visit around the world, so he doesn’t have time to visit Lithuania, which is why Lithuanians made a deal with Santa and got permission to dress up as him to surprise their kids on Christmas Eve. Though not as unusual as the two aforementioned traditions, Lithuanians follow a rather specific tradition when it comes to dinner on Christmas Eve. Lithuania: The Rebirth of a Nation, 1991–1994 , 1999. Dawson, Jane I. Eco-Nationalism: Anti-Nuclear Activism and National Identity in Russia, Lithuania, and Ukraine , 1996. Kûèios ir Kalëdos ] Ancient historical sources confirm the main moments of the winter holiday, the return of the sun, which are found in the 20 th century Lithuanian beliefs and traditions. This has been the case since ancient times. Kūčiukai are bite-sized biscuits served with freshly made poppy milk that are only eaten during the Christmas season. Other Christmas traditions in Lithuania. Each country has their own traditions regarding Christmas. Roman Catholics, the predominant religious population in Lithuania, gave new meaning to old customs or introduced new ways to celebrate the religious holiday. For example, some people say the practice of placing hay underneath the tablecloth on Christmas Eve predates the introduction of Christianity to Lithuania, though now obvious parallels can be drawn between hay on the Christmas table and the hay in the manger where Jesus was born. The Lithuania Tribune spoke to Marija Liugienė, chief coordinator at Vilnius‘ Ethnic Culture Centre, about Christmas Eve, or Lithuanian Kūčios traditions. In Estonia, Christmas time starts with Advent. National traditions of Lithuania. In Lithuania, Christmas Eve, known as Kūčios, is more important than Christmas Day itself. Is there a better drink than mulled wine by the fireplace when the weather outside is super cold? Lithuania is often called the Northern Italy because of the similarity of inhabitants’ nature. Plan Your Christmas Vacation to Eastern Europe, Celebrate Christmas Italian Styles at These City Events, A Visitor's Guide to Russian Christmas Traditions, Top 9 Spots for Christmas Cheer in Pittsburgh, Discover How the Poles Celebrate Christmas, 18 Places to Spend Your Christmas Vacation With Kids, Things to Do for Christmas in Northern Virginia, An Alaska Christmas: Festivals and Events, Lithuania's Annual Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations, Christmas Season Getaways in the Pacific Northwest, Why You Need to See Krakow at Christmas This December, These Traditions Will Help You Celebrate a Croatian-Style Christmas. King effigies parade city streets and some people write their traditional initials ("+K+M+B") in chalk on their front … Ever heard of Kucios [ˈkuːtɕɔs]?Kucios is the traditional Christmas Eve dinner in Lithaunia, held on the 24th of December.The meal is a family occasion which includes many traditions of both pagan and Christian origin. It is no surprise that kids believe in magic, but during Christmas, even adults join in and get involved in various Christmas spells. You would never ever see Lithuanians having this dish any other time. CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS IN LITHUANIA eTwinning project 2012-2013 2. Going to church with your family on Christmas morning is one of our Christmas traditions. Kerry Kubilius is a freelance writer who specializes in Eastern European history, culture, current events, language, and travel. If you are visiting from somewhere that has enjoyed a winter frost, make sure to bring some snow with you! Tucked between Latvia, Belarus and Poland, Lithuania is deep in the clutch of winter by the time Christmas arrives. Lithuanian Christmas traditions are a combination of old and new and Christian and pagan, and they have similarities with traditions from the other two Baltic nations, as well as with the traditions of Poland, whose past is linked with Lithuania's. Sometimes these are made with plastic drinking straws, but the more traditional material is the yellow straw usually used for farm animals. Actually decorating the Christmas tree is an important family tradition in and of itself. Lithuanians believed that animals speak on Christmas Eve, so they used to bring them some food from the table. Kūčios (Lithuanian pronunciation: [ˈkuːtɕɔs]) or Kūtės (Samogitian Dialect) is the traditional Christmas Eve dinner in Lithuania, held on the twenty fourth of December.The meal is a family occasion which includes many traditions of both pagan and Christian origin. Gerner, Kristian, and Stefan Hedlund. In accordance with Catholic traditions, many Lithuanians abstain from meat on Christmas, so most of the dishes are fish. However, for the last couple of years, nature was not so kind, and kids had to learn how to build snowmen from sand and grass. Usually, during the Christmas Eve, the fruits like Lithuanian apples are served, then nuts, honey, potatoes with various types of fish, mushrooms, vegetables. #hotwine #karstasvynas #naujimetai #2017, A post shared by Miglė Šablinskaitė Nasevičienė (@msablinskaite) on Dec 31, 2016 at 9:33am PST. Actually decorating the Christmas tree is an important family tradition in and of itself. Handmade straw ornaments are particularly traditional. Kūčiukai cookies on the Lithuanian Kūčios table. Lithuania has little traditions in celebrating its national ... More uniquely to Lithuania the Christmas Eve (Kūčios, December 24th) is even more celebrated than the Christmas itself and it is also a day off the work. The Lithuanian name for Christmas, Kaledos, comes by way of Slavic languages from the Latin word for Calends, Kalendae. So, yes, many people in Lithuania only go to church for weddings, funerals and Christmas. The Vilnius Christmas market takes place in the historic center; stalls sell seasonal treats and handmade gifts. Assorted cookies, cakes and sweet pastries are served for dessert. Happy new year! #christmastree #christmas #presents #santa #santaclaus #goodtimes #holidays #unitedkingdom #lithuanians #worthing #kaledos #dovanos #kaledusenelis, A post shared by Aivaras Girskis (@ai_varas) on Dec 24, 2016 at 6:00pm PST. Historically, people would cut the Christmas tree from the nearest forest, but today, decorative Christmas trees are getting more and more popular, as it’s more convenient and better for the environment. Every 90s kid knows Kevin McCallister’s story. Christmas Traditions in Lithuania Šilutės r. Katyčių pagrindinė mokykla ,,The Seasons” Comenius Multilateral Project 2013 – 2015 2. My family follows some of the Lithuanian Christmas Traditions (Kucios). Christmas eve (kūčios) is a more important day than christmas day. The decoration as per Christmas traditions in Lithuania is done with straws, which is spread on the table and then covered by white cloth table, and after this table is decorated with candles and small tree branches. • Christmas Ever dinner is more important in Lithuania than Christmas dinner. Christmas tree on Vilnius' Town Hall Square, International Women's Association of Vilnius. Can you answer these multiple questions about some of those traditions? As in Poland, the Christmas Eve feast traditionally consists of 12 meatless dishes (though fish is permitted, and herring is often served). Many things change in Lithuania, but you can bet you’ll see Home Alone on TV during the holidays. It is the day of cleaning, both inside and outside the house. Lithuania is largely a Catholic society, so many visit the local church on Christmas. Who can refuse a delicious home-cooked meal? Habits, mentality and the way of living. The Christmas period ends in a less popular Epiphany holiday (January 6th) which commemorates the three kings (magi) who visited baby Jesus. Lithuanian Christmas Eve Dinner. Christmas Traditions Around the World - Multiple Choice. More recently, the Harry Potter movies have also become a staple of Lithuanian Christmas. Only Christmas and Easter are the celebrations that bring more people to church than usual; Vilnius celebrates Christmas with public Christmas trees and a relatively new tradition - a European-style Christmas market. This tradition has left its mark on the customary Lithuanian Christmas Eve dinner, which is meatless. Home Alone [1990], starring Macaulay Culkin, has been the traditional Christmas movie in Lithuania for years. Christmas in Estonia. Christmas Eve Christmas Eve dinner is more important in Lithuania than Christmas dinner. Lithuania is a Catholic country, however most of Lithuanians do not attend church every Sunday. I would love to hear more about how you celebrate during the holidays. Kūčios is also the name of the big Christmas Eve meal which families have together during the evening of Christmas Eve. People visit the churches of the town and pray for happiness. Old Lithuanian Christmas traditions According to Juozas Kudirka, a researcher of this festivity, more specific knowledge about Christmas customs in Central Europe can be traced back to the 17th century. In time, Christian celebration of Christmas eclipsed all of the above, but some of the ancient customs, such as decking houses with evergreens, giving presents and feasting, became a part of the Christmas tradition. So, if you want to try it, better make your way to Lithuania before Santa Claus. What are your family Holiday traditions? Lithuanian Christmas trees are, invariably, spruces (even the local name is "Christmas spruce") but man-made "trees" became popular since the 2000s. Christmas Eve (Kūčios) is a more important day than Christmas Day. By using Tripsavvy, you accept our. Children put their socks on their window ledge and every day until Christmas Eve, December 24th, an elf comes and puts some sweets in it! The Christmas season begins with a charity bazaar coordinated by the International Women's Association of Vilnius at Town Hall, where Santa Claus greet children and foods and products from around the world are available for sale. Historically, people would cut the Christmas tree from the nearest forest, but today, decorative Christmas trees are getting more and more popular, as it’s more convenient and better for the environment. The main qualities that are typical for all Lithuanians are sociability and love for fun. Traditional Lithuanian xmas poppy seed milk with tiny crunchy cookies #vegan #traditionalxmasdish #poppyseeds #poppyseeddrink #lithuanianxmas #kuciukai #aguonupienas #kaledos #poppyseedmilk #veganlithuanian #secondxmasday #familytime #cozyathome #sweetvegantreat #kaunas #quickpoppymeals #easterneuropean #plantbasedlithuanian, A post shared by Ingrida (@ingrida_gallery) on Dec 26, 2016 at 9:47am PST. 3. Rules are relaxed today and it is common to see Lithuanian Christmas tables straying from local fare to include imported seafood and produce. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Traditionally, twelve dishes are to be served on a Christmas Eve table (symbolizing twelve months of the year) and the dinner is to start once the Western star rises. The bells herald the arrival of relatives coming … If you visit Vilnius during the Christmas season, it's possible to see the Christmas tree on Vilnius' Town Hall Square. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK", Christmas in Vilnius| ©Pavel Pavel/Flickr. That is how Lithuanian kids grow up believing in Santa Claus.