2. CHRISTMAS WAITING
One week before Christmas everyone stars wait this
celebration. People decorate Christmas tree with
lights and put wreaths on the front door of their
house.
3.
4. CHRISTMAS EVE
24 of DECEMBER
Christmas Eve dinner is more important in
Lithuania than Christmas dinner. Preparation for
Christmas Eve take all day. The house is cleaned
and food is prepared not only for the special
supper but also for the first day of Christmas.
People abstain from meat.
5.
6. For the Christmas Eve dinner, the table is
prepared special too. A handfull of fine hay is
spread on the table. The table is covered with a
pure white tablecloth, set with plates and
decorated with candles and fir boughs.
7.
8. Twelve different dishes are served on the table
because Jesus had twelve apostles.
All the dishes are meatless: fish, herring, a dried fruit
soup or compote, a salad of winter and dried
vegetables, mushrooms, boiled potatoes, sauerkraut
and bread.
9.
10. All family members make an effort to come
home for the Christmas Eve supper, even from a
distance. Not so much for the meal as for the
sacred family ritual which draws family members
closer. If a family member has died, an empty
place is left at the table. A plate is still placed on
the table and a chair is drawn up, but no spoons,
knives or forks are set.
11.
12. The meal is eaten solemnly, there is little
conversation. After the meal no one hurries to
leave the table. The family remains seated, the
mood lightness, predictions and forecasts are
done about next year health, happiness, love and
etc.
13. SPELLS
Who first to rise after the meal while another is still
eating will die first.
A steam of hay is pulled from under the table cloth.
It shows how long you will live.
Drip several drops of wax from a blessed candle into
a cold glass of water and place the glass by your bed.
That night you will dream about your future spouse.
The simplest spell is to count in two. Matches, peas,
candy or anything else can be counted. If it comes
out in pairs, you will find you spouse next year.
14. CHIRSTMAS EVE MAGIC
At exactly midnight all animals were able to speak
like humans. But listen to their conversation is
dangerous because you could know the day of death.
At the precisely midnight all water turns into wine.
If the sky is clear on Christmas night full of stars, the
year will be good.
16. CHRISTMAS DAY
25 of DECEMBER
Christmas day a lot of people visit relatives.
Everyone changes presents. People spend day
plying board games, talking and everybody is
happy.
