Kursenai Polytechnic School, Public Institution, Lithuania

2013-06-23

Summer Customs and Traditions in

LITHUANIA

Holiday, in which we celebrate fatherhood, likewise mother’s day – motherhood. In Lithuania we celebrate Father’s day on the first Sunday of June.

The first Sunday of June - Father’s Day

June 24th - St. John’s day. Midsummer’s day

It’s the longest day and the shortest night of holiday. Midsummer’s day is mentioned as solstice day, that’s why it’s surrounded by spells and beliefs. Traditionally, during St. John’s day everyone makes camp fires, and braid many kinds of chaplets, and at the midnight we search for the blossom of fern.

July 6th- king’s Mindaugas Coronation Day

Mindaugas – Lithuanian grand Duke (1236-1253), also the first king of Lithuania (1253–1263). His coronation as the king of Lithuania day is Lithuanian Republic’s state holiday.

Song Festival

• It’s one of the most beautiful Lithuanian cultural traditions, when thousands of people, including lots of guests from around the world singing and dancing together. Lithuanian song festival is national - level event, as global cultural value belongs to UNESCO world heritage list. Only Lithuanian songs are sung, Lithuanian dances are danced. The whole Lithuanian nation is connected by song.

July 25th - St. Jacob’s

St. Jacob, one of Christ’s apostle’s name - day. In the rural work community it’s the end of harvesting. According to the vintage faiths, during St. Jacob’s you can’t work at all in the fields, and especially, taking rye feet to the barn, because thunder will turn all the harvest to ashes.

July 26th - St. Ann’s

Saint Ann is portrayed with a book in her hand and with her daughter - maiden Mariah. It’s a fun holiday the youth wanton, mock each other, spill water on each other, then seat to the feast table. So, the customs were to teach the peer support, love to labour.

June 29th - St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s day.

Two of widely celebrated and honored apostolic saints - Peter and Paul holiday, annually celebrated in June 29th. St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s day in Lithuanian villages is the second most prominent summer holiday after solstice. In many cities and villages in Lithuania there are events of St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s indulgence. St. Peter is portrayed with a key in his hand, St. Paul with a book.

July 30th - Sea’s Day

Sea day holiday started from fisherman meetings, feasts, regattas. Sea’s day became the biggest traditional holiday of city Klaipeda. In the beginning of the holiday’s history there were parades of ships, carnivals, get - togethers. Now in different squares of Klaipeda music concerts, art projects are held.

August 15th - Assumption day

In the XIX – XX centuries in farmer’s calendar appeared a new holiday – Assumption’s day, it is associated with St. Maiden’s Mary assumption holiday, which is celebrated in August 15th. In the church priest enchants herbariums and rye harvest finishing chaplet, and bread baked of the first harvest.