Christmas celebration in Lithuania

When I was little, my grandma used to tell me ’’Christmas is not about the gifts, Santa or delicious food – it’s all about the family’’.At the age of 8, I had no idea what these words mean, but deep in my heart, I felt that Christmas has something special, something magical, what I have to find out on my way.

Let’s do the research?   

Throwback to the good old days

Every year I used to go for the Christmas holidays to Trakai, a little town in Lithuania,  where my grandparents used to live. I enjoyed this so much – lots of action, singing, shopping, preparation for Christmas Eve, when even cleaning the huge can be fascinating (especially hoovering with brothers, I was so excited!), but also cooking most extraordinary meals (prieskuciai, aguonpienis, fish, krupnikas) and singing carols. I will never forget how busy it was when 5 people are trying to ‘’create’’ Christmas masterpiece in the kitchen to make every member of the family happy by ensuring enough food, although every year there was the same problem – too much food. However, this was always a surprise as we never knew who will come to visit us and guest, uncles, aunts and neighbour were always coming to say Merry Christmas on the 25 or 26 of December.   

How does the Christmas look like in Polish-Lithuanian family?

Among all of this, my favourite part was making ‘’pierozki’’ with my grandma, who was the real chef, whose food was always the most delicious and authentic, even if the same recipe was used by other family members. What was her secret? Seasonings? Secret ingredient? Or her heart she put into making every Christmas most wonderful time,   when all family meet at the table with 12 dishes, pray and share Christmas wafer with each other.  

Moreover, we used to go to the church at night for ‘’Pasterka’’ which was a special mass with reading a Bible about Jesus birth. Also, this mess was breath-taking, as it involved singing Christmas carols and was performed without lights!! Back then I already knew, that Christmas will become my favourite celebration which I have to wait for 365 days... until Christmas spirit will knock at the door and invite everyone for this amazing wonderful moment of joy. Despite I was in Lithuania, our traditions mixed both Polish and Lithuanian cultures, However, I haven’t thought that in other countries Christmas celebration is different! Now as a student at UK university I look 10 years back at this house full of people singing ‘’Cicha noc’’ (‘’Silent night’’), making ‘’pierozki’’ and myself annoying adults asking for more Poppy Seed Milk. Today, in 2019, a few weeks before entering the new decade, I want to re-create these memories to make them stay alive forever in the hearts of family, even being far away from Lithuania.   

Christmas Eve in Lithuania

In Lithuania, Christmas Eve is the most important celebration during Christmas time which is on the 24thof December. As Lithuania is a Catholic country many of our traditions have a religious background. Christmas Eve or "Kūčios’’ is the last day of Advent, peaceful time of waiting for the birth of Jesus during which we don’t eat meat and restrict ourselves from something we like. Thus, the Christmas Eve meal is the culmination of almost waited for 4 weeks. Firstly, it is a long day we start by waking up early in the morning to prepare 12 dishes for Christmas Eve as number 12 indicates 12 Apostles. Also, there is always an extra place – fully set the plate for a family member who has died or a guest who may come. Usually, this empty plate is left for all night for the soul, who once was celebrating Christmas with the family and is no longer here. This tradition is meant to tell the soul that he/she is welcomed.   

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