Christmas Eve in Lithuania On the 24 th of December we celebrate Christmas Eve. That day everybody in family has some work to do: mother prepares food,

Christmas Eve in Christmas Eve in LithuaniaLithuania

On the 24On the 24thth of December we celebrate of December we celebrate Christmas Eve. That day everybody in family has Christmas Eve. That day everybody in family has some work to do: mother prepares foodsome work to do: mother prepares food,, father goes father goes to the forest to find a Christmas tree and children to the forest to find a Christmas tree and children make decorations.make decorations.

So, our children So, our children Justina Justina andand Liucija Liucija prepared prepared some straw.some straw.

They put straw to warm salty water to make them They put straw to warm salty water to make them soft and shiny.soft and shiny.

Later children made festoons and stars from dry Later children made festoons and stars from dry straw.straw.

There they are!There they are!

Juste already made the festoon from straw but Ausra is still

working.

Made festoonsMade festoons......

And other decorations for Cristmas And other decorations for Cristmas tree.tree.

Little Lukas was to Little Lukas was to impatient to wait for impatient to wait for others and run to others and run to decorate Christmas decorate Christmas tree.tree.

AuAusra and sra and RadvilRadvile wre making decorations e wre making decorations from wet straw.from wet straw.

Later we made some starsLater we made some stars

and birds.and birds.

When the first star appears in the sky whole When the first star appears in the sky whole family gathers next to the table. First of all, family gathers next to the table. First of all, we put some hay and…we put some hay and…

And covers it with white tablecloth.And covers it with white tablecloth.

On the table we put a candle,On the table we put a candle,

kuciukai (special Christmas rolls).kuciukai (special Christmas rolls).

and other dishes.and other dishes.

First of all family members share bread First of all family members share bread brought from church.brought from church.

During the Cristmas Eve dinner we have to During the Cristmas Eve dinner we have to taste 12 different dishes so whole year to be taste 12 different dishes so whole year to be healthy.healthy.

After the dinner time for magic comes. People believed After the dinner time for magic comes. People believed that on Christmas Eve was possible to find out future. So that on Christmas Eve was possible to find out future. So every member of the family took one straw to find out every member of the family took one straw to find out what this year is going to be like.what this year is going to be like.

If the straw is long and straight, the year will If the straw is long and straight, the year will be nicebe nice..

Counting peas we try to guess if we find a Counting peas we try to guess if we find a pair next year.pair next year.

Dripping wax from the candle we are going Dripping wax from the candle we are going to find our future.to find our future.

It seems that love will guide us all year.It seems that love will guide us all year.

We hug the fence and count sticks.We hug the fence and count sticks.

We put our shoes to the tub and swung watching We put our shoes to the tub and swung watching whose shoe will fall out first. That one will go whose shoe will fall out first. That one will go somewhere first.somewhere first.

The future is hiding under the plates.The future is hiding under the plates.

Happy and Merry Christmas!Happy and Merry Christmas!