Winter in Lithuania

Šilutės r. Katyčių pagrindinė mokykla

,,The Seasons”Comenius Multilateral Project

2013 – 2015

Winter months

Sometimes winter lasts up to 5 months starting at the end of November and ending in April.

The first snow may drop even in October. But it isn’t winter, it is only our dreary

autumn.

December

Gruodis

Sausis

January

Vasaris

February

Winter in Lithuania is associated with snow and cold weather. Sometimes the temperature can drop down to 25

or 30 degrees below zero.

Of course, there are just a few days like that, but when it happens all schools close down.

Usually the temperature is around 10 degrees below zero. It is cold enough for the snow not to melt away but it is still not

low enough to cause harm to people’s health.

The most enjoyable time in winter is when it snows. Then children go sleighing, build snowmen and play in the snow or go for a walk to a snowy

park or forest with their parents and friends.

The Lithuanians have a saying “Warmth doesn’t break bones”, so woolen socks, scarves, warm

coats and gloves are sensible clothes

Winter is definitely the most magical time of a year in Lithuania because of the winter celebrations.

Christmas Eve is celebrated on 24th December. This evening is the most wonderful evening in the year. It is full of mysticism

and secrecy.

Even the animals begin to speak in the cattle shed at midnight.

The Lithuanians decorate Christmas trees and at the sunset they have ceremonial family dinner.

Christmas Eve dinner is more important in Lithuania than Christmas dinner.

The whole family gathers together. If a family member has died that year or cannot attend the meal (only for

very serious reasons) an empty place is left at the table.

12 meals for Christmas Eve dinner must be prepared, and none of them can contain meat.

Christmas is celebrated on 25th and 26th December. It is a family celebration.

Christmas day is an extended version of a family gathering that started on Christmas Eve. On the first day of Christmas family stays

together, however, it is popular to visit other relatives or close friends on the second day of Christmas.

New Year Day (January 1st)

New Year is an out going celebration. People wait for the midnight to start a new year, to greet friends and relatives, and to

see fireworks.

January 6th is the Three Kings Day.

People write K + M + B over the doors to save their home from evils.

This day also means that the Christmas holiday cycle is over and the Christmas tree decorations

must be packed for the next year.

There are some other famous days and celebrations in winter.

January 13th - Defenders of Freedom Day

Lithuania declared independence in March 1990, but on January 10, 1991 Soviet troops arrived to reinstate Soviet rule in Lithuania. A human barricade was set up around the Vilnius TV tower to protect it, because the Soviets wanted to stop the broadcasts for the world not to be informed about the events. Fourteen unarmed civilians were shot or run over by tanks, but Soviets eventually retreated.

This year on January 13th the civic action “The Memory is live, because it proclaims” took place for the seventh time. Many Lithuanian schools light the candles on the windows, which symbolize the respect to the casualties, also the light of the defended freedom, the victory of

freedom ideas against the brutal force as well as the memory and concentration.

The Independance Day is celebrated on 16th February.

Lithuania attempted to re-establish itself as a sovereign state after World War I when the Lithuania’s Act of Independence (Act of

February 16) was signed on February 16, 1918.

Major cities in Lithuania celebrate Independence Day with parades, public speeches and festivities and other exciting state-supported entertainment. Every year we prepare a

concert for our community at school.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday or Pancakes Day is celebrated in the end of February, seven weeks before Easter. It signifies the

weakening of winter and it is a merry carnival.

The traditional figures in the carnival are Kanapinis (the Hemp Man) and Lašininis (the Fatty). Other costumed figures are jews, angels, devils, death, travelling healers, goats, cranes.

They all are the escort of Morė.

Morė is an effigy dressed in woman’s clothes, which must be burnt at the end of Shrove Tuesday carnival.

Pancakes are the traditional Shrove Tuesday dish. They symbolize The mother Sun, awaking from long winter

sleep.

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained there in.”