Lithuanian Christmas

1. Students from Sandoros Progymnasium

2. Christmas Eve
 In Lithuania, the Christmas Day (“Kalėdos”) is less
important than the Christmas Eve, which has a much
bigger meaning. The Christmas Eve is
called “Kūčios”. It also shares the name with a ‘big
family dinner’, which Lithuanians host on that
day. “Kūčios” is also the last day of the Advent
season, which makes it even more important and
special.

3. Chritmas Tree
 Before the big celebrations the whole house would
have to be cleaned, the linens changed and a big
Christmas tree or a branch would be set up and
decorated. the Christmas tree has to be decorated on
the Christmas Eve’s morning (December 24th) and not
any day sooner. It should bring you joy for 12 days,
until the Epiphany. The tree‘s toys would have the
shapes of snowflakes, stars, snowmen, geometric
figures and other forms.

4. The Christmas Meal
 The traditional “Kūčios” dinner consists of 12 dishes
– one for each of Jesus’s followers. The most
popular dishes include various kinds of fish (herring,
salmon, baked pike or other) served with a
garnish. No Christmas table can ever exist
without “kūčiukai” – small sweet pastries, soaked in
poppy milk.

5. Drinks
 Food would be washed down with a homemade
cider, water or “kisielius” – a traditional, very dense
Lithuanian drink, made of cranberries and starch.

6. The Bathing Ritual
 After the Christmas tree, a big table would be arranged
with numerous dishes, plus some traditional
ornaments. The food would normally be cooked to last for
several days. After that, everyone would take a bath and
put on some clean festive clothes before they sit down for
the big meal. It’s widely believed that a clean body on the
Christmas Eve would help people stay healthy throughout
the next year.
 It would also protect them from the evil, hence many
Lithuanians would normally go to a traditional bathhouse
at this time as well. On the Christmas Eve nobody is
permitted to work and family members who were away,
would make every effort to come home.

7. Commemorating the Dead
 It’s also common to leave an extra plate for a family
member who could not attend the Christmas Eve’s
dinner. Or for a newly departed relative, who had
passed away during the past year.
 In addition, friends who don’t have any place to go on
the Christmas Eve, would be invited for the dinner. No
one should feel lonely during this special time!

8. Christmas Eve Miracles
There are heard some legends that in the Chirstmas Eve
night the water can turn into the wine and that the
animals can start speaking like humans...

9. Christmas morning
 Any unnecessary work should be avoided during the
first day of Christmas, since it’s considered to be a
sacred time. Due to that reason, the only food served
that day would be the one prepared in advance.
People go to the church and then the Christmas Day
is usually spent at home with the family exchanging
gifts, playing joyful games and singing Christmas
carols.

10. Lithuanian Folk Christmas song
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To listen to the song, please press here.

11. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Lithuania, Vilnius Christmas Tree 2018

12. Thanks for watching
😉😉
Merry Christmas!