This document discusses Easter traditions in Lithuania. It is one of the most important festivals in the country. People spend six weeks preparing, with rituals starting one week before Easter on Palm Sunday. Traditions include cleaning houses on Holy Thursday, somberness on Good Friday, and obtaining blessed fire and water on Holy Saturday. People also color eggs and prepare meals. On Easter Sunday, there are church processions and services followed by a meal that begins with each person clicking their egg against others'. Children search for eggs left by the Easter Granny and there are games involving eggs such as an egg breaking game and egg rolling down a bark.

1. Easter eggs and EasterEaster eggs and Easter
traditions in Lithuaniatraditions in Lithuania

2. ► The word EasterThe word Easter
means “important day”.means “important day”.
► This day is one of theThis day is one of the
most importantmost important
Lithuanian traditionalLithuanian traditional
festival.festival.
► Easter is not only theEaster is not only the
feast of Christ’sfeast of Christ’s
Resurrection but alsoResurrection but also
nature is awakeningnature is awakening
from winter’s sleep.from winter’s sleep.

3. ► It is such an important celebration that we spendIt is such an important celebration that we spend
over six weeks preparing for it.over six weeks preparing for it.
► And the name of the season is Lent.And the name of the season is Lent.

4. PreparationPreparation
► Palm SundayPalm Sunday
► Easter rituals start oneEaster rituals start one
week before Easter, onweek before Easter, on
Palm Sunday. That weekPalm Sunday. That week
is called the Great Week. Itis called the Great Week. It
is full of prohibitions,is full of prohibitions,
beliefs and archaicbeliefs and archaic
traditions.traditions.
► Palms (“verbos”) are madePalms (“verbos”) are made
of colorful dried wildof colorful dried wild
flowers and herbs. Usuallyflowers and herbs. Usually
people take them topeople take them to
church on palm Sunday tochurch on palm Sunday to
be blessed.be blessed.

5. Holly ThursdayHolly Thursday
► Holly Thursday is aHolly Thursday is a
time for ritual cleaning.time for ritual cleaning.
► On Holy ThursdayOn Holy Thursday
you must wash notyou must wash not
only yourself but cleanonly yourself but clean
the whole house.the whole house.

6. Good FridayGood Friday
► On Good FridayOn Good Friday
people are very sad inpeople are very sad in
respect for therespect for the
crucified Christ.crucified Christ.
► Children are forbiddenChildren are forbidden
to make noise.to make noise.

7. Holy SaturdayHoly Saturday
► On Holy Saturday,On Holy Saturday,
people go to church topeople go to church to
obtain blessed fire andobtain blessed fire and
water.water.
► The belief is that theyThe belief is that they
have miraculoushave miraculous
powers.powers.

8. Preparing for Easter on Holy SundayPreparing for Easter on Holy Sunday
► The food that will be eatenThe food that will be eaten
on Easter is prepared onon Easter is prepared on
Holy Saturday.Holy Saturday.
► Also on Saturday peopleAlso on Saturday people
color Easter eggs.color Easter eggs.
► The eggs are decorated byThe eggs are decorated by
different methods.different methods.
► In simplest form, they dyedIn simplest form, they dyed
naturally with onion skins.naturally with onion skins.
► The more elegant eggs areThe more elegant eggs are
made with the wax-resistmade with the wax-resist
method.method.

9. Easter eggs dyed with onion skinsEaster eggs dyed with onion skins
and leafy herbsand leafy herbs

10. Easter eggs is scraping with a knifeEaster eggs is scraping with a knife

11. Easter morning in churchEaster morning in church
► The Easter morningThe Easter morning
procession is usuallyprocession is usually
conducted around theconducted around the
church.church.
► We have: Church flagsWe have: Church flags
is hold high, girls strewis hold high, girls strew
flowers, the choir andflowers, the choir and
all the people sing andall the people sing and
the church bells ringthe church bells ring
loudly.loudly.

12. Easter DinnerEaster Dinner
► After Easter morningAfter Easter morning
church services,church services,
people return to theirpeople return to their
homes to dine.homes to dine.
► The meal starts withThe meal starts with
an egg. Each personan egg. Each person
has his own egg andhas his own egg and
clicking it againstclicking it against
another’s.another’s.

13. Lithuanian Easter GrannyLithuanian Easter Granny
► On Easter Sunday,On Easter Sunday,
children search Easterchildren search Easter
eggs, which left themeggs, which left them
by the Easter Grannyby the Easter Granny
also known as Velyalso known as Velykė.kė.
► Granny bring the eggsGranny bring the eggs
to all good children.to all good children.

14. Games with Easter eggsGames with Easter eggs

15. Egg-breaking gameEgg-breaking game
► The simplest is an eggThe simplest is an egg
breaking game. Twobreaking game. Two
players holding anplayers holding an
Easter egg and hitEaster egg and hit
each other’s egg.each other’s egg.

16. Egg rollingEgg rolling
► A tree bark with aA tree bark with a
smooth inside issmooth inside is
placed at an angle andplaced at an angle and
eggs are rolled downeggs are rolled down
through it.through it.
► When the egg hitsWhen the egg hits
another egg, whichanother egg, which
had rolled downhad rolled down
earlier.earlier.

17. The EndThe End