Christmas in Lithuania

Christmas Eve The Christmas Eve meal normally has 12 dishes - one for each of Jesus's followers. None of the dishes contain meat (and some people also don't have milk or eggs in them). Christmas Eve is on December 24th. It is a more important day than Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is also the name of the big Christmas Eve meal which families have together during the evening of Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is also the last day of Advent, so it is important and special.

Straw is a traditional decoration Straw is a traditional decoration. Is it normally spread on the table top and then covered with a clean, white tablecloth. The table is then decorated with candles and small branches or twigs from a fir tree. The straw reminds people of the baby Jesus lying in a manger. A superstition says that if you pull a piece of straw from under the tablecloth and it's long, you will have a long life; but if it's short you will have a short life; and a thick straw means a rich and happy life!

Christmas Christmas is on the 25th of December. Popular Christmas Tree decorations in Lithuania are ones made from white paper straws. They are often in the shapes of stars, snowflakes and other geometric shapes. Nativity Cribs are also popular in Lithuania with very large scenes often being put outside churches. The Christmas season lasts until the 6th of January - Epiphany.