A LITHUANIAN CHRISTMAS!

On Sunday, 12-23, we celebrated a Lithuanian Christmas in honor of our Ben.  It was fun time!

 A LITHUANIAN CHRISTMAS

Traditions

Family Gathering: Emigration is quite a social problem in Lithuania, as many people have left the country to look for a better life abroad, especially since joining the European Union. But on Christmas, many come back to spend the holiday with their families, as everyone gathers together from all over the world to celebrate and appreciate each other’s company.

 Straw under the Tablecloth: everyone draws a piece of straw.  If you draw a long one, you will have rich life. 

Another interpretation of the straws is this: Single people find out when they will meet their other half by pulling straws from beneath the table (there is no data about the efficiency of this spell, though). 

Straw ornaments on Christmas Tree

 Animals will talk on Christmas Eve.  Pay close attention to Tucker tonight…

 Open gifts on Christmas Eve: we will get our stocking gifts tonight.

 Watch Home Alone [1990].  This movie has been the traditional Christmas movie in Lithuania for years. Many things change in Lithuania, but you can bet you’ll see Home Alone on TV during the holidays. More recently, the Harry Potter movies have also become a staple of Lithuanian Christmas.

 Go to Midnight Mass: will we try this on Christmas Eve?  Lithuania is mainly a Catholic country. 

 Lithuanians always prefer to have snow during the Christmas holiday. However, for the last couple of years, nature was not so kind, and kids had to learn how to build snowmen from sand and grass.

 12 Dish Meal: Lithuanians serve 12 dishes on Christmas because Jesus had 12 disciples.  In accordance with Catholic traditions, many Lithuanians abstain from meat on Christmas, so the main dish is usually fish.

1.         Apple slices

2.         Mulled Cranberry Juice

3.         Mushrooms

4.         Hot Cabbage Dish:

            substituted this for sauerkraut

5.         Cod- ironically our own little Lithuanian doesn't like this so there will be meat available too

6.         Baked Potatoes

7.         Carrots&Cucumbers and veggie dip: substituted this for beets as the veggie

8.         Wheat Porridge

9.         Dried Fruit

10.       Kūčiukai are bite-sized biscuits served with freshly made poppy milk that are only eaten            during the Christmas season. 

11.       Marble Rye Bread

12.       Apple Cake for Jesus' Birthday

linksmų Kalėdų

Merry Christmas in Lithuanian

Thank you Lord for our Lithuanian treasure!