MULTIDISCIPLINRY NATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.pptx
Christmas eve
1. Christmas Eve is a
celebrations, which is held
on 24th December. It is
one of the oldest
Lithuanian festivals
celebrated according the
solar calendar. This solar
transition point is called
solstice. Nowadays on this
day it is usual that the
whole family gathers and
has dinner together.
2. It is usual to make 12 or 13 meals for the Christmas Eve dinner.
This is probably symbolizing 13 or 13 months of the year
calculated according the Moon. Kūčioms nuo seno gamindavo 12
ar 13 patiekalų. Tai turbūt simbolizavo 13-os ar 12-os mėnesių
metus, skaičiuojamus pagal Mėnulį. When the years started to
count according the Sun, then it was usual to have 12 meals on
the table at the dinner. In any case not all follow this tradition
nowadays.
3. „Kūčia“ – is made of ceeals (wheat, barley, peas, beans, rye,
ect...), mixed with „miešimas” (water with honey). Kūčia was
used to entertain the elders’ sirits. The fist bite and sips were
sacrificed to the spirits and harvest deities. Kūčia was also given
to bees and animals, believing that a better livestock will be for
the next year.
4. Oat-juice jelly – was sacrificed to the gods and natural
elements, it was also served for the spirits. Making the oat-juice
jelly, magic and tricks were used too.
5. Oat Balls – made of steamed and ground oat flour dough.
Later they were replaced by flats and balls („šližikai“ or
„kūčiukai“). Round wholemeals and others symbolized the
coming back sun.
7. Meat – was usual on the Christmas Eve table, but later
affected by Catholic religion it eventually disappeared from list of
12-13 meals.
8. Fish replaced the meat. The biggest attention was given to
pike as according to folklore, it was a symbol of fertility.
9. “Grucės” mash – a barley mash which was eaten with the
poppy seed milk. It is agrarian and family holidays traditional
ritual meal. Poppy, hemp and cranberry symbolized the fertility
and profusion of crops.
10. Christmas Eve was a big celebration at the ritual table, accompanied by
rituals, magic and sacrifices. People were trying to complete all the work
before Christmas Eve. It a was forbidden to grind, thresh and do other works
as the noise could cause clouds with hail for the upcoming summer. People
were not patching fur and other clothes as lambs and other animals could
born mottled. Women were not spinning as the sheep could got dizziness and
were not making slips of wood as it was believed that animals could hurt
claws.
.
11. Ready for the celebration, people were having a wash according the rites.
Firstly, housewives or girls were washing men undressed to the waist, then
women were having a wash. Later hot tubs and saunas appeared. The need to
wash was interpreted variously: “washing the sins of the year and then clean
waiting for the other”; “Clean body – pure soul”; “The one who will have a
wash will be the first who finishes the ground work”. At the beginning of this
century on the Christmas Eve men after the sauna used to dress up in white
linen shirt and women – their best clothes, and used to say: “Throughout the
year will be clean”.
12. The beginning of the Christmas Eve dinner was when the evening star arose.
Some hay was laid on and under the table. Tablecloth was laid on the hay and
meals set on the table. It was usual to put some candles, sometimes – sheaf of
rye, and put a stone under the pot. Invited the closest mercenaries and lonely
neighbors. Before eating all stood up. The oldest was praying aloud after what
everybody wished to each other health and happiness. Firstly ate “Kūčia“.
Some food was dedicated and sacrificed to spirits and gods. On Christmas Eve
also stoke a fire, burnt straws or chump.
13. At the table were acting like in a church: quietly, calmly, respectfully and
if during the last year there was no major disaster, had fun. The first who were
talking, were father and mother. They remembered the dead. Remembered
those who were in exile, military or emigrated and could not be together at the
Christmas Eve table. Father or grandfather told stories about the birth of baby
Jesus, upcoming festivals, their meaning, sometimes about the first humans.
All the thing in the family were remembered since the last Christmas.
14. With the hope were talking about the upcoming year. Stories about the youth
were favorite by grandfathers. At the table it was discussed, who will go to
church and who will stay and look after the animals, prepare the Christmas
meals. While older was talking, children remained silent. They usually
started only after the sweets or when parents asked anything.
15. Hay is the most important part during the Christmas Eve. It was laid under the
table, tablecloth or on the dirt floor. It probably was associated with people’s
belief that the souls of the dead rest on the straw. It was also used for the
fortune telling. Widely known custom during or after the eating to pull hay
from the tablecloth. The longer stipe you pull put, the better and longer your
life will be. The housekeeper looked for the cereal under the hay and planted
that kind which found more, hoping for the better harvest. It was also usual to
pull straw from the roof and if it was a stipe with ear, wealthy harvest was
hoping to be. The trees were wrapped in hay believing that this will make
them produce more fruits and bloom better
16.
17. Lots of attention deserves Christmas Eve spells. Starry sky, piles of stars in
a sky meant fertile year, layer chickens and a lot of mushrooms. Strong wind
mean a lot of nuts and wild apples. Lots of rain – nice barley harvest. Trees
tried to wrap in hay as it was believed that it help to get better harvest in
autumn. At this evening fed the animals better .
18. Widely known marriage spells: expect for the matchmakers from
the side where dogs bark; how many wood can take in one go –
even number means the girl will wed. measuring the fence with
the bag a girl spoke: “bread will have from the bag, bread will
have from the garner”. If the measure had the last word “bread
will have from the garner”, then expected marry a rich men.
Three girls hid a rue, a ring and a rosary under the pot. The one
who found a rue meant she will stay unmarried for one more
year, a ring – will marry, a rosary – will be churchy this ear.
19. People believed, that animals speak at Christmas Eve night.
They foretold the future and especially the term of living. Usually
was believed speak horses. At Christmas Eve evening people fed
animas better. Forage was brought at the evening as it was
believed that spirits work in barn and may hurt with forks if
disturb them. Hay from the table was allowed to give only cows
and sheep, it was forbidden to give to horse. If anyone
intentionally listened to animals – he died.
20. It was believed that the water in the wells at the midnight of
the Christmas Eve for one second turns into wine and a man who
tastes this water becomes smarter and can even understand what
animals say. However, to drink this water intentionally or wait
for this miracle was forbiden as it treatened with death.
21. It is hard to say how old is the divination with the mirror,
which should show the husband of the one who is
divining. For example, a girl or a young men wanting to
know who will be their husband or wife, should take
two candles, a towel, mirror, go to a lonely house, lit the
candles and put the mirror. Wipe the dew from the
mirror with a towel and will see husband or wife.
Another magic rite is: a girl burns her hair and says the
name of a men, if that men lives close to her, he will
come on the same night, if far away – the next morning.
When he comes, he asks who called him.
22. On the Christmas Eve, after the sunset, the air is
full of evil spirits, then the witches are especially
powerful. Those who wanted to ward off the evil
spirits had to have scones. With the same aim
they had to decorate their house corners with
crosses. On Christmas Eve nobody was visiting
the neighbors, the ones who came were
considered to be witches, as it was believed that
spirits are wandering this evening.
