Gustė Paškauskaitė ir Beatričė Martyšiūtė (8d kl.)

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Christmas is considered to be Christmas is considered to be an old festival. The name “Christmas” is an old festival. The name “Christmas” is known to many nations (Romans, Greeks, Slavs, Albanians and other). known to many nations (Romans, Greeks, Slavs, Albanians and other). There are several opinions on the origin of the festival name. Christmas There are several opinions on the origin of the festival name. Christmas

begins on 25begins on 25thth December. This date was considered to be sun and December. This date was considered to be sun and vegetation God’s birthday. During the Christmas celebrationvegetation God’s birthday. During the Christmas celebration in in

LithuaniaLithuania, people make magic actions, sing songs, ect. , people make magic actions, sing songs, ect.

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Lithuanian Lithuanian Christmas rituals have many in common Christmas rituals have many in common with other Indo-European peoples rites. On the first with other Indo-European peoples rites. On the first day of Christmas people used to be in serious mood. day of Christmas people used to be in serious mood. They did not go outside and did not work, They did not go outside and did not work, but but using using magics were trying to predict the next year’s weather magics were trying to predict the next year’s weather and amount of harvest. On cold Christmas day people and amount of harvest. On cold Christmas day people were expecting snowy Easter and late spring. As well were expecting snowy Easter and late spring. As well

as on other holidays in Lithuania, a great magic as on other holidays in Lithuania, a great magic power was attributed to greetings and wishes.power was attributed to greetings and wishes.

on Christmas too. on Christmas too.

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Our ancestorsOur ancestors had to get up early on Christmas had to get up early on Christmas morning, remove Christmas Eve dishes from the morning, remove Christmas Eve dishes from the

table looking if there are no traces of spirits. table looking if there are no traces of spirits. Removed hay from the table they used to hand out Removed hay from the table they used to hand out

for the livestock. Traditional dishes wfor the livestock. Traditional dishes wasas pork or pork or boarboar. . In Samogitia (In Samogitia (ŽemaitijojeŽemaitijoje)) a hotchpotch with a hotchpotch with a pig’s tail in the middle of bowl was placed on the a pig’s tail in the middle of bowl was placed on the

Christmas table.Christmas table.

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SaSanta Claus is depicted as a cute, nice, heavy old man nta Claus is depicted as a cute, nice, heavy old man with a long white beard, red clothes and hat, and a with a long white beard, red clothes and hat, and a

bag of gifts. Children are told, that on Christmas Eve bag of gifts. Children are told, that on Christmas Eve he comes on reindeer harnessed sleigh beardhe comes on reindeer harnessed sleigh beard and gives and gives to all good children.to all good children. In Lithuania there was a custom In Lithuania there was a custom to visit neighbors on the Christmas morning dressed up to visit neighbors on the Christmas morning dressed up

like a Santa Claus (like a Santa Claus (KalėdaKalėda) wishing a good harvest. ) wishing a good harvest. In folk songs it is told about his trip from a far In folk songs it is told about his trip from a far

country. country.

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DishesDishes Written sources mention ritual pork eating during Written sources mention ritual pork eating during

the festival and the custom of pig and piglets the festival and the custom of pig and piglets sacrificing when starting farming works. In sacrificing when starting farming works. In

Lithuania it is widely spread custom to slaughter a Lithuania it is widely spread custom to slaughter a pig before Christmas. Slaughtered pig’s head decorated pig before Christmas. Slaughtered pig’s head decorated with various herbs took the most important place on with various herbs took the most important place on

the table among all the other dishes. In Samogitia the table among all the other dishes. In Samogitia ((ŽemaitijojeŽemaitijoje)) a hotchpotch with a pig’s tail in the a hotchpotch with a pig’s tail in the middle of bowl was placed on the Christmas table.middle of bowl was placed on the Christmas table.

Christmas AttributesChristmas Attributes Inherent Christmas attributes were – a bag

and a stick. People used to welcome and feast Santa Claus, and he regarding this used to reward all with gifts, congratulate, wish for hosts wealthy harvest next year, dance with children and give them brought with himself nuts.

There was a custom in There was a custom in Pilviškių Pilviškių villagevillage, Kurklelių , Kurklelių district when a man dressed up in a fur coat inside-out district when a man dressed up in a fur coat inside-out with a towel on his hips, linen beard and hump on his with a towel on his hips, linen beard and hump on his

back used to take a basket and stick, and visit back used to take a basket and stick, and visit neighbors. neighbors.

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SourcesSources ::

www.google. lt/vaizdaiwww.google. lt/vaizdai

www.vikipedia. ltwww.vikipedia. lt

andand

Pranė Dundulienė Pranė Dundulienė

„„ Lietuvių šventės :tradici jos , papročiai , Lietuvių šventės :tradici jos , papročiai , apeigos “apeigos “