Historical philosophical, theoretical, and legal foundations of special and i...
Winter in Lithuania
1. Winter in Lithuania
Šilutės r. Katyčių pagrindinė mokykla
,,The Seasons”
Comenius Multilateral Project
2013 – 2015
2. Winter months
Sometimes winter lasts up to 5 months starting at
the end of November and ending in April.
The first snow may drop even in October.
But it isn’t winter, it is only our dreary
autumn.
6. Winter in Lithuania is associated with snow and cold
weather. Sometimes the temperature can drop down to 25
or 30 degrees below zero.
7. Of course, there are just a few days like that, but when it
happens all schools close down.
8. Usually the temperature is around 10 degrees below zero. It
is cold enough for the snow not to melt away but it is still not
low enough to cause harm to people’s health.
9. The most enjoyable time in winter is when it snows. Then children go
sleighing, build snowmen and play in the snow or go for a walk to a snowy
park or forest with their parents and friends.
10. The Lithuanians have a saying “Warmth doesn’t
break bones”, so woolen socks, scarves, warm
coats and gloves are sensible clothes
11. Winter is definitely the most magical time of a year in
Lithuania because of the winter celebrations.
12. Christmas Eve is celebrated on 24th December. This evening
is the most wonderful evening in the year. It is full of mysticism
and secrecy.
Even the animals begin to speak in the cattle shed at midnight.
14. Christmas Eve dinner is more important in Lithuania
than Christmas dinner.
The whole family gathers together. If a family member
has died that year or cannot attend the meal (only for very
serious reasons) an empty place is left at the table.
15. 12 meals for Christmas Eve dinner must be prepared, and none of
them can contain meat.
17. Christmas day is an extended version of a family gathering that
started on Christmas Eve. On the first day of Christmas family stays
together, however, it is popular to visit other relatives or close friends
on the second day of Christmas.
18. New Year Day (January 1st)
New Year is an out going celebration. People wait for the
midnight to start a new year, to greet friends and relatives, and to
see fireworks.
19. January 6th is the Three Kings Day.
People write K + M + B over the doors to save their home
from evils.
20. This day also means that the Christmas holiday
cycle is over and the Christmas tree decorations
must be packed for the next year.
21. There are some other famous
days and celebrations in winter.
22. January 13th - Defenders of Freedom Day
Lithuania declared independence in March 1990, but on January 10, 1991
Soviet troops arrived to reinstate Soviet rule in Lithuania. A human barricade
was set up around the Vilnius TV tower to protect it, because the Soviets
wanted to stop the broadcasts for the world not to be informed about the
events. Fourteen unarmed civilians were shot or run over by tanks, but
Soviets eventually retreated.
23. This year on January 13th the civic action “The Memory is live, because
it proclaims” took place for the seventh time. Many Lithuanian schools
light the candles on the windows, which symbolize the respect to the
casualties, also the light of the defended freedom, the victory of
freedom ideas against the brutal force as well as the memory and
concentration.
24. The Independance Day is celebrated on
16th February.
Lithuania attempted to re-establish itself as a sovereign state after
World War I when the Lithuania’s Act of Independence (Act of
February 16) was signed on February 16, 1918.
25. Major cities in Lithuania celebrate Independence Day with
parades, public speeches and festivities and other exciting
state-supported entertainment. Every year we prepare a
concert for our community at school.
27. Shrove Tuesday or Pancakes Day is celebrated in the end of
February, seven weeks before Easter. It signifies the
weakening of winter and it is a merry carnival.
28. The traditional figures in the carnival are Kanapinis (the Hemp
Man) and Lašininis (the Fatty). Other costumed figures are
jews, angels, devils, death, travelling healers, goats, cranes.
They all are the escort of Morė.
29. Morė is an effigy dressed in woman’s clothes, which
must be burnt at the end of Shrove Tuesday carnival.
30. Pancakes are the traditional Shrove Tuesday dish. They
symbolize The mother Sun, awaking from long winter
sleep.
31. “This project has been funded with support
from the European Commission. This
publication reflects the views only of the
author, and the Commission cannot be
held responsible for any use which may be
made of the information contained there
in.”
