Religiuos Religiuos customs of customs of LithuaniaLithuania

Cultural spirit, Family, Share, Cultural spirit, Family, Share, LoveLove

Christmas in LithuaniaChristmas in Lithuania

While the fields are covered with While the fields are covered with sparkling snow, streams, rivers and sparkling snow, streams, rivers and lakes are under ice, we are meeting lakes are under ice, we are meeting christmas with a table full of christmas with a table full of 1212 dishdishes, love, excitement of waiting of es, love, excitement of waiting of Santa Claus to bring us many Santa Claus to bring us many presents for us - being good the presents for us - being good the whole year roundwhole year round

CHRISTMAS EVE BISCUITS

Kūčiukai

1/2 k (1 lb) flour; 1 cup milk

50 g (4 tablespoons) vegetable oil

20 g (4 teaspoons) fresh yeast

2 tablespoons poppy seed; 1/4 cup sugar

Blend yeast with sugar and dissolve in warm milk. Add half of the flour to yeast and mix well. Dust top of batter with flour, let rise in warm spot for 1 hour. Beat dough, add remaining flour, oil and scalded poppy seed. Mix well and knead until dough is not sticky, about 30 minutes. Let rise in warm spot for 1 hour. Roll dough into 1cm/ 1/2 inch thick rolls and cut into same lengths. Place dough pieces on floured baking sheet and bake in preheated oven at 350F/160C, until golden brown.

These biscuits are baked for Christmas Eve supper, when they are served with poppy seed milk.

New YearNew Year!!!;)!!!;) Shampagne, happiness, nice costumes, Shampagne, happiness, nice costumes,

festival for everyone- the biggest festival of festival for everyone- the biggest festival of the Year. the Year.

While Lithuanians are waiting 12 to come While Lithuanians are waiting 12 to come and have a brand new year on their and have a brand new year on their threshold, they are talking about past year threshold, they are talking about past year and deciding where they good or not, what and deciding where they good or not, what exciting happened.exciting happened.

The whole night’s celebration starts when The whole night’s celebration starts when the clock beats 12 and the past year is the clock beats 12 and the past year is history and new ones full of hop, new ideas, history and new ones full of hop, new ideas, new energy, expectations is already here.new energy, expectations is already here.

Time to celebrate and be happyTime to celebrate and be happy

Pancake day - Shrove Pancake day - Shrove tuesdaytuesday

This is a joyful day for all Lithuanians as we This is a joyful day for all Lithuanians as we celebrate thecelebrate the Independence Day. It's also a . It's also a pancake day! If there's a festival to pancake day! If there's a festival to celebrate at the same day as celebrate at the same day as Independence day, it's definitely the , it's definitely the Shrove Tuesday/ Pancake day as it has such as it has such old and interesting traditions and pancakes old and interesting traditions and pancakes is the dish that can definitely called one of is the dish that can definitely called one of the most popular ones. the most popular ones.

There is also and our mystic lady called There is also and our mystic lady called More- attribute of the end of the winter. More- attribute of the end of the winter.

Pancakes and MorePancakes and More

EasterEaster The most important

symbol of Easter in Lithuania is Easter eggs (marguciai). Painting, dyeing and decorating eggs is a tradition popular in Eastern European countries.  It is a very ancient custom. Although Easter is a Christian feast, the tradition of painting eggs is much older than Christianity.

The most beautiful eggs are those painted with wax. A stick is dipped in hot wax and then patterns with the stick are painted on a warm egg. When the painting with wax is completed, the egg is dipped in dye. Later the egg is placed into hot water for wax to melt.

St. John’s daySt. John’s day Saint Jonas' FestivalSaint Jonas' Festival - Joninės, Kupolė, - Joninės, Kupolė,

Midsummer Day or St. John's Day) is a Midsummer Day or St. John's Day) is a midsummer folk festival celebrated on June midsummer folk festival celebrated on June 24 all around Lithuania. The traditions 24 all around Lithuania. The traditions include singing songs, dancing until the sun include singing songs, dancing until the sun sets, telling tales, searching to find the magic sets, telling tales, searching to find the magic fern blossom at midnight, jumping over fern blossom at midnight, jumping over bonfires, greeting the rising midsummer sun bonfires, greeting the rising midsummer sun and washing the face with a morning dew, and washing the face with a morning dew, young girls float flower wreaths on the water young girls float flower wreaths on the water of river or lake. These are customs brought of river or lake. These are customs brought from pagan culture and beliefs. Lithuanians from pagan culture and beliefs. Lithuanians with the names Jonas, Jonė, Janina receive with the names Jonas, Jonė, Janina receive many greetings from their family and friends.many greetings from their family and friends.

All Saints Day All Saints Day (Halloween)(Halloween)

Lithuanians have an All Saint's Day called "Vėlinės" on November 1st, which is a day when lithuanians remember people that have passed away. Something closer to Halloween would be "Užgavėnės“ – “Pancace day”. It is a Lithuanian festival that takes place during the seventh week before Easter. Children would go to other peoples houses, usually asking for pancakes or sweets.