[2009-12-30] The discussion on the Lithuanian customs and the traditions was organized in the library of the Refugees Reception Center

Although the year goes to the end, but the activity is still organized in the library of the Refugees Reception Center.

The discussion on the Lithuanian customs and traditions was organized in the library of the Refugees Reception Center on December 16, 2009 by the coming of Christmas Eve and Christmas with the living foreigners of the center. During the meeting it was talking about the old Lithuanian customs, the dishes of Christmas Eve and Christmas, magic. It was told that Christmas Eve was a big festival around the ritual table, accompanied by rituals, magic, sacrifice. The people tried to finish works before Christmas Eve.

The foreigners got to know, that the Lithuanians made 12 dishes for Christmas Eve, such as Christmas bread, oaten drink, fish croquettes, beetroot soup with mushrooms, fish. The people started to eat dinner on Christmas Eve when the Hesperus rose. Everybody stood up before the dinner. The oldest one prayed loudly, later everybody wished each other health, luck. At first the Christmas bread was eaten. A part of food was given to the spirits, sacrificed to Gods.

The houses were decorated during Christmas with the branches of the Christmas trees. The period from Christmas till Three Wise Men was called the period between the festivals, in the evening of these days the people did not do anything, being afraid of the supernaturals, the spirits.

The foreigners were very interested in the magic of Christmas Eve and tried some of them.

The social worker mentioned that the wishes and the congratulations, which were made by the oracles, had a big meaning. Later this custom remained as a walking in Santa Claus clothes.

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