1. LITHUANIAN FOLKLORE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

2. Our ancestry thought the world as a tree, which joins the vault, the ground and the sky, the worlds of the quick and the dead, the past, the presence and the future. The tree is eternal and endless. It’s a tiny model of the universe.

4. Consequently, there is nothing weird the tree grew up into the symbol which is usually carved on the dower- chest, chapels and jewelry, weaved on the belts.

6. The symbolism of the world tree reflects in the Garden. It is the model of universe made of wreathed hay that symbolizes harmony, balance between two springs: the divine and the ground, the male and the female, light and darkness, breath and death. The symbolism of the world tree reflects in the Garden. It is the model of universe made of wreathed hay that symbolizes harmony, balance between two springs: the divine and the ground, the male and the female, light and darkness, breath and death.

7. The garden hanging above the table fulfills the peak of the world tree. The rituals happening under this tree represented the act of cosmos creation for our ancestries. It was believed the garden protect home from evil. The swinging garden fills home with positive energy, harmony and order.

8. The life tree in the arts The life tree in the arts

9. Our ancestries believed that the life of man and nature revolves around and renews constantly. The most important Lithuanian festivals rotates around nature swing.

10. This is the celebration of summer solstice signifying the shortest night and the longest day. St Jonas’ day is celebrated on the 23rd of June. This is a magic time as nature is full of vitality. Besides, the dew is miraculous. It is believed that washing your face, wading barefoot makes people healthy and good-looking. ST JONAS’ FESTIVAL

11. At this moment plants contain peculiar healing powers. Herbage is popped into gates, home corners in order to protect them from evil spirits and and misses. Lithuanians wish to express respect for plants. As a result they bind herbage of fields into Kupolė and raise highly on the pole. Kupolė is some kind of sun circle.

12. The most important festival accent is a crown. People usually primp by him and wear all the time celebration takes place. In the evening the crowns with a burning candle put in the middle are usually let into the water.

13. The essence of St Jonas’ festival is to join or marry the fire and water. This festival correspond wedding festival in human’s life. During summer solstice festival it is a deep and exciting tradition to look for fern flower at midnight, which symbolizes fortune nad wisdom.

14. After sunset people usually burn the fire, sing ritual songs, worship the sun whereas the following day the light hours normally grow down every day. After sunset people usually burn the fire, sing ritual songs, worship the sun whereas the following day the light hours normally grow down every day.

15. In autumn, on the 1st of November nature become calm quiet and serious people celebrate All Soul’s Day. It aims to remember and communicate with those who have passed away. All Soul’s Day

16. Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is winter solstice festival. The great turning point occurs in the evening that means days become longer and longer every day and get back the sun and hope. It was believed the sun is imprisoned and can’t dispel dark evil in winter. It must be liberated to return light, warmth determining the coming of new life.

17. Christmas Eve night is the longest night of the year full of secrets, magic and miracles. The Lithuanians must try twelve dishes that symbolizes twelve months, predict future listening to dogs’ barking, looking to the mirror, trickling the wax. It is believed that domestic animals start speaking and predict future on the Christmas Eve after midnight.

18. Laying the table for Christmas Eve dinner hay is placed under white tablecloth aiming to remind people that Jesus was born in stall. There can’t be meat dishes only herring, kūčiukai with poppy milk, kissel, mushrooms, boiled potatoes, sauerkraut, nuts, apples, bread. Everybody have to try all the dishes otherwise won‘t celebrate the following year‘s Christmas Eve. The most important dainty is kūčiukai. Some time ago it was a ritual bread to nourish the souls.

19. The sun is longer and longer in the sky, the life wakes, the first little sprouts raises after Christmas. It’s the time when festivals of waking up, recovery and birth are celebrated The sun is longer and longer in the sky, the life wakes, the first little sprouts raises after Christmas. It’s the time when festivals of waking up, recovery and birth are celebrated

20. Pancake day is seeing off winter. People travel around the area making noise, singing cheerful songs and wearing as the reapers, the poors, Jew, gipsies, horses, bears, cranes. Pancake day

21. Morė - scarecrow dressed as woman and brought around the town symbolizes the evil spirit of winter. In the evening it is burnt by all the disguised people. This way the end of winter is predicted.

22. There is still alive custom to eat much and fatty. It was believed if you are full on Mardi Gras you will be full all year round. Women used to boil a lot of meat, fry plenty of pancakes.

23. Easter is a celebration of nature awakening, spring delight and merrymaking. Easter celebration starts with Palm Sunday. Old people used to say the one who comes without Easter palm to church gets devil‘s tail in his palm. Easter palm is a twig of juniper, thuja decorated by flowers. Relatives hurry up to beat the sleeping ones shouting like this Easter palm beats, not me. Beatingis waking up for the joy of spring. Easter

24. Lithuanians decorate and eat eggs. This is the most important ritual dish symbolizing the renewal of human and nature. Suns, twigs of rue, firs, birds, little grass-snakes are painted or carved on Easter egg patterns.

25. Lithuanian traditional holidays rotate all year round. We are happy that feasts are kindly celebrated and there is a pile of vivid traditions and customs.