What makes holiday season in Lithuania special?
What makes holiday season in Lithuania special?
Sveiki!
In today’s blogpost I would like to introduce you to the topic of essential Lithuanian traditions and vocabulary when it comes to the holiday season. This will give you a vision on how December usually goes in Lithuania and what to expect during this period of your study exchange!
Christmas trees in Lithuanian cities and what is the eglutės įžiebimas?
During the holiday season, Lithuanian cities come alive with festive decorations, and Christmas trees are central to the holiday décor. Between the Lithuanian cities, a friendly unofficial competition takes place each year for the prettiest Christmas tree. Each city and even smaller towns or villages are putting effort to decorate the main square and make the atmosphere as cozy as possible. There you may also find the specially prepared Christmas markets to enjoy some warm tea, hot chocolate or snacks. Eglutės įžiebimas is a special event taking place in each city during the beginning of December when the main Christmas tree in each city is being lit together with a concert and other festive performances. Make sure to attend this event as they usually involve a lot of positive energy and bring people together for some holiday spirit!
Advento kalendorius
"Advento Kalendorius" is the Lithuanian term for Advent Calendar. The Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count the days of Advent, the period of time leading up to Christmas. Advent usually begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, and the Advent calendar is a way to mark each day of this season.
Advent calendars come in various forms, but they typically involve a countdown from December 1st to December 24th. Each day, a window or compartment of the calendar is opened to reveal a surprise, which can be a small treat, a piece of chocolate, a festive image, or a short message. Some Advent calendars are designed as decorative pieces with pockets, drawers, or doors for each day, while others are digital and can be found online.
In Lithuania, Advent calendars are a popular way for families, individuals, and communities to engage in the anticipation and preparation for Christmas. You may witness local presenting their friends, relatives or colleagues with these Advent calendars and it is a funny activity which you can try yourself!
Kūčios (Christmas Eve)
Kūčios (Christmas Eve) takes place on the evening of December 24th. This dinner traditionally includes twelve meatless dishes, symbolizing the twelve apostles. Common foods include fish, mushrooms, and various pastries. Families set an extra place at the table for deceased relatives, symbolically inviting them to join the festivities. Kūčiukai, small, sweet pastries, are also a usual part of Kūčios dinner (you can see them in the picture above). They are served with poppy milk, a traditional Lithuanian drink made from poppy seeds, water, and sugar. The sweetness of kūčiukai and poppy milk gives a special taste to the whole dinner, and sometimes are also accompanied by kisielius, traditional Lithuanian beverage, particularly associated with the Christmas season.
Christmas, week between Christmas and New Years Eve and naujieji metai celebration
On the Christmas morning, Lithuanians typically exchange presents between the family members and gather together later in the day for the Christmas lunch or dinner. Sometimes, after the dinner, Lithuanians would go to meet their friends and exchange presents with them too.
Anticipate a quiet period from the 24th to the 26th of December. During this time, the majority of shops will be closed, and many locals will be away from Vilnius or other major cities, visiting their relatives throughout the country.
Between the Christmas and New Years Eve, many Lithuanians are taking holidays to travel or keep the festive celebration atmoshpere until the 31st of December, when New Years Eve or naujieji metai celebration takes place. During this evening, many locals are gathering together with friends and family and celebrate by preparing festive dishes, singing and taking on the streets before midnight to witness the fireworks and congratulate each other.
This celebration marks the end of the major celebrations period for the Christmas period. On the 6th of the January, Trijų Karalių šventė takes place. In Christian tradition, they are the figures who visited the baby Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Parades of the Trys Karaliai are taking place in some cities with huge costumes of these figures walking to the main Christmas tree in main city squares. After this day, cities are starting to remove the Christmas trees and festive atmosphere calms a down.
What do you think of Lithuanian traditions when it comes to holiday season? Share your experiences on the festive celebrations in the community forums!
Yours,
Gytis
Lithuanian community manager
Photo credit: Real is Beautiful stock (realisbeautifulstock.lt)