Christmas EveChristmas Eve

Prepared by: Tadas Pavolis Prepared by: Tadas Pavolis Arvydas Bagdonas Arvydas Bagdonas

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Christmas EveChristmas Eve There are not many nations in the world There are not many nations in the world

that celebrate Christmas Eve so devotedly that celebrate Christmas Eve so devotedly as the Lithuanians. Christmas Eve is more as the Lithuanians. Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas day in our important than Christmas day in our country and in my family too. country and in my family too.

In the evening on Christmas Eve all In the evening on Christmas Eve all members of our family gather together members of our family gather together and have a big dinner with twelve special and have a big dinner with twelve special dishes.dishes.

It’s necessary to have twelve dishes It’s necessary to have twelve dishes because Jesus had twelve apostles. All because Jesus had twelve apostles. All dishes must be without fat, milk, butter dishes must be without fat, milk, butter and meat, because it’s the last day of and meat, because it’s the last day of fasting. Usually we make dishes with fish, fasting. Usually we make dishes with fish, grains, green peas and mushrooms. The grains, green peas and mushrooms. The main dish is kuciukai – little cookies made main dish is kuciukai – little cookies made from paste with yeast. from paste with yeast.

Our family gathers at the dinner table as Our family gathers at the dinner table as soon as the first star appears in the sky. soon as the first star appears in the sky.

When everyone is assembled at the table When everyone is assembled at the table we say the prayer. The father then offers we say the prayer. The father then offers his wafer to every family member or guest his wafer to every family member or guest at the table. He wishes the best wishes for at the table. He wishes the best wishes for everyone. everyone.

In our family the Christmas Eve table is In our family the Christmas Eve table is not cleared for the night, because we not cleared for the night, because we believe that the souls of our ancestors and believe that the souls of our ancestors and others dead members of our family come others dead members of our family come home for supper on this night.home for supper on this night.

Christmas Eve is rich in prognostications. Christmas Eve is rich in prognostications. We draw straws from under the tablecloth. We draw straws from under the tablecloth. The longest straw means that our life will The longest straw means that our life will be very long, the thickest means that we be very long, the thickest means that we will be happy.will be happy.