Christmas time in Lithuania begins with the period of Advent which continues for four weeks. The Advent ends at 25th of December on Christmas. Together with Advent begins fast as well. This is the period when you shouldn’t eat meat and milk products. It’s the time for spiritual abstinence from entertainment.
The special decoration of Advent time is rarotas. This is the first early Mass on Sundays. Lithuanians are decorating their home with wreaths made of fir tree. Inside the wreath they put four candles, usually the red ones, which split the circle in four even parts. Every week of Advent one candle is lighten up. The last candle is light up on fourth week. The candles on Christmas tree are light up from this last candle of Advent.
24 th of December is the last day of the Mass – Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is one of the oldest lithuanian holidays. This is the day when Jesus Christ was born. This is also the dinner evening before Christmas. One of the main courses is small round pieces of baked dough with poppy seeds, jelly drink made with potato flour, usually it’s red, the taste of cranberries or oat. All family usually gets together to the dining table right after the North Star rises. They believe, that this dinner ritual will make the harmony of the family stronger. There was a belief that the guest that has been invited to the dinner can bring happiness to the family. The dinner begins with ritual of sharing kalėdaitis (it‘s the platter made of flavour and baked in a special shape of baking form). This is the symbol of peace in family and bread. Kalėdaičiai (Christmas cookies) are devided by the oldest member of the family –father. During the Christmas Eve‘s dinner you hve to try all of the dishes on the table for better and replete next year. People are drawing lots after dinner: drawing hay, pouring wax into the water, listening for barking dogs which shows the direction of coming matchmaker. All the food after dinner is left on the table for the dead souls.
25 th of December – the day Christ’s Birth – Christmas. The celebration of Christmas continues for three days, earlier it was for four days. On Christmas morning people are going to church to welcome baby Christ. Children are looking for the presents from Santa under the Christmas tree. There is a custom to decorate a fir tree on Christmas. Church is explaining fir tree as a symbol of Jesus Christ and the way it’s green all the time means eternal life.
New Year begins at the first of January. This is the holyday that arose after the Christmas Eve and Christmas. It’s not just a usual night. That’s the night when all the wishes and predictions become true. New Year is the time of renewal. It’s linked with people’s need to clean themselves spiritually, think about what was done wrong and right. It’s very important to act on the New Year’s Eve the way you want to live all next year.
6th of January is the day of Three Kings – three wise Eastern men who visited Jesus in Bethlehem. Three men of wisdom went to Jerusalem led by the magic star in the sky. They found the baby with his mother Mary and left their gifts to them – gold. Legend says that their names were Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. Before this holiday the chalk is consecrated and using this chalk three letters – C+M+B - have to be written on the door of the houses. On the day of Three Kings the decorations on Christmas tree must be taken off.
We have this tradition to celebrate Christmas in our kindergarden ‚Bangele‘ too. Children, parents, grandparents, guests and all workers are invited to this celebration. The dean of parish is always invited as well. Everybody feels the meaning of approaching mirracle in festal silence and light of the candles. During this evening children asre listening for tales, stories and legends of the way their parents and grandparents were celebrating Cristmas long time ago. They are also playing games, singing songs, reciting poems and decorating hall with Christmas candles and lanterns made by kids. One of the most memorizible evenings was ‚Let‘s get together next to the Christmas candle‘. We had a guest – the dean of Siauliai parish Eugenijus Bartulis. He tought new canto about kindness. Padagogues and children were performing ‚Girl and the lantern‘. This year they are going to play the performance ‚Queen of the Snow‘.
The special decoration of Advent time is rarotas. This is the first early Mass on Sundays. Lithuanians are decorating their home with wreaths made of fir tree. Inside the wreath they put four candles, usually the red ones, which split the circle in four even parts. Every week of Advent one candle is lighten up. The last candle is light up on fourth week. The candles on Christmas tree are light up from this last candle of Advent.
24 th of December is the last day of the Mass – Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is one of the oldest lithuanian holidays. This is the day when Jesus Christ was born. This is also the dinner evening before Christmas. One of the main courses is small round pieces of baked dough with poppy seeds, jelly drink made with potato flour, usually it’s red, the taste of cranberries or oat. All family usually gets together to the dining table right after the North Star rises. They believe, that this dinner ritual will make the harmony of the family stronger. There was a belief that the guest that has been invited to the dinner can bring happiness to the family. The dinner begins with ritual of sharing kalėdaitis (it‘s the platter made of flavour and baked in a special shape of baking form). This is the symbol of peace in family and bread. Kalėdaičiai (Christmas cookies) are devided by the oldest member of the family –father. During the Christmas Eve‘s dinner you hve to try all of the dishes on the table for better and replete next year. People are drawing lots after dinner: drawing hay, pouring wax into the water, listening for barking dogs which shows the direction of coming matchmaker. All the food after dinner is left on the table for the dead souls.
25 th of December – the day Christ’s Birth – Christmas. The celebration of Christmas continues for three days, earlier it was for four days. On Christmas morning people are going to church to welcome baby Christ. Children are looking for the presents from Santa under the Christmas tree. There is a custom to decorate a fir tree on Christmas. Church is explaining fir tree as a symbol of Jesus Christ and the way it’s green all the time means eternal life.
New Year begins at the first of January. This is the holyday that arose after the Christmas Eve and Christmas. It’s not just a usual night. That’s the night when all the wishes and predictions become true. New Year is the time of renewal. It’s linked with people’s need to clean themselves spiritually, think about what was done wrong and right. It’s very important to act on the New Year’s Eve the way you want to live all next year.
6th of January is the day of Three Kings – three wise Eastern men who visited Jesus in Bethlehem. Three men of wisdom went to Jerusalem led by the magic star in the sky. They found the baby with his mother Mary and left their gifts to them – gold. Legend says that their names were Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. Before this holiday the chalk is consecrated and using this chalk three letters – C+M+B - have to be written on the door of the houses. On the day of Three Kings the decorations on Christmas tree must be taken off.
We have this tradition to celebrate Christmas in our kindergarden ‚Bangele‘ too. Children, parents, grandparents, guests and all workers are invited to this celebration. The dean of parish is always invited as well. Everybody feels the meaning of approaching mirracle in festal silence and light of the candles. During this evening children asre listening for tales, stories and legends of the way their parents and grandparents were celebrating Cristmas long time ago. They are also playing games, singing songs, reciting poems and decorating hall with Christmas candles and lanterns made by kids. One of the most memorizible evenings was ‚Let‘s get together next to the Christmas candle‘. We had a guest – the dean of Siauliai parish Eugenijus Bartulis. He tought new canto about kindness. Padagogues and children were performing ‚Girl and the lantern‘. This year they are going to play the performance ‚Queen of the Snow‘.
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