This year, Easter will be on March 31st. This festival is one of the major ones in Lithuania. It’s when the Lithuanian countryside comes to life with all the city people visiting grandparents and, for a few days, returning to their roots.
Over the last decade, our Easter holiday behavior has changed. More and more people are buying plane tickets, traveling to visit other countries, and enjoying warm days in Southern Europe. However, our traditions and customs are still very much alive in our memories and frequent local homes.
Many Lithuanian towns decorate main squares and avenues with eggs and bunnies. I’m adding a photo from Kaunas.
Source: Realisbeautiful
Let’s learn about the most critical symbols and Easter traditions in Lithuania.
Easter (Velykos) in Lithuania is not only a Christian celebration but also a welcome to spring after a long winter. These are some of the most cherished Lithuanian Easter customs:
Margučiai (Easter Eggs)
One of Lithuania's most recognizable symbols of Easter is the margučiai, intricately decorated Easter eggs.
The art of egg decorating in Lithuania dates back to pagan times when eggs were considered symbols of fertility and renewal, embodying the rebirth of nature in spring. With Christianity, this practice was integrated into Easter celebrations, symbolizing the promise of eternal life.
Unlike the simple dyed eggs seen in some other cultures, Lithuanian Easter eggs are often decorated with detailed designs using the wax-resist method, similar to the Ukrainian pysanky.
The designs are not merely decorative; they carry symbolic meanings, with different colors and patterns representing life, health, purity, and the awakening of nature.
Back in the day, decorated eggs (margučiai) were given to neighbors and friends as a wish. Its colors represented different wishes, for example:
- Red: Symbolizes life, passion, and the sun.
- Green: Represents nature, growth, and new beginnings.
- Yellow: Symbolizes the moon and stars, signifying light and purity.
- Black: Often used for outlines, symbolizing the earth or eternity.
Source: Pixabay
Margučių daužymas (Tapping Easter eggs)
If you are invited to celebrate Easter together, don’t rush to crack and unshell your Easter egg. Before eating their Easter eggs, local people play a game called "the strongest Easter egg."
They tap each other's Easter eggs, and the one whose egg wins takes the cracked egg. The one with the strongest egg leaves the table the most full and satisfied, as they get to eat all the cracked eggs.
Easter Breakfast
The Easter breakfast is a significant meal in Lithuania, marking the end of Lenten fasting. Traditional dishes include Velykų boba (a traditional cake similar to Italian panettone), kiaušinienė (a type of omelette with plenty of greens), and, of course, the beautifully decorated margučiai. The food is often blessed at church on Holy Saturday, adding a sacred dimension to the meal.
Velykų Bobutė (Easter Granny)
The Velykų Bobutė, or Easter Granny, is a unique Lithuanian folklore character akin to the Easter Bunny in other cultures. According to tradition, she delivers Easter eggs to children on Easter Sunday, hiding them around the house or garden for the children to find.
Swinging
Swings are an essential part of Easter celebrations in Lithuania. Swinging on Easter Sunday is believed to bring health and joy for the coming year. It’s also thought to ward off evil spirits; the higher one swings, the further away the spirits will be banished.
Margučių ridenimas (Easter eggs rolling)
Easter egg rolling is a traditional game known locally as "margučių ridenimas." This game is part of the Easter celebrations and involves rolling decorated eggs down a slope or a specially prepared incline. The objective is to see whose egg can roll the furthest without breaking or to knock out competitors' eggs from the track.
This fun game brings families together and reflects the joy and renewal of spring. After the competition, these eggs, like in many other Easter traditions, can be shared and eaten as part of the celebration.
These traditions and customs are a testament to Lithuania's deep-rooted history and how the country's residents celebrate the rebirth of spring. Easter in Lithuania is a time of joy, reflection, and community, deeply interwoven with the nation's cultural and spiritual life.
Karolina, OLS Community Manager – Lithuanian