Skaidre 1

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Project STRATFORD
New Strategies For Promoting Foreign Language
Learning in Disadvantaged Areas
Module Traditions and Traditional
Festivals Presentation 28 th January,
2008 Jaca, Spain
Created by Jurate, Dalia, Reda and Valdas from
Pakruojis Education Centre, Lithuania
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THE INDEPENDENCE DAY (February)
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Coat of Arms
The Council of Lithuania in 1918
Flag
The Independence Day (February)
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The Act of Independence of Lithuania was
signed by the Council of Lithuania on February
16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an
independent State of Lithuania, governed by
democratic principles, with Vilnius as its
capital. The Act was signed by all twenty
representatives, chaired by Jonas Basanavicius.
While the Act's original document has been
lost, its legacy continues. The laconic Act is
the legal basis for the existence of modern
Lithuania, both during the interwar period and
since 1990.
The Independence Day (February)
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Motto "The strength of the nation lies in unity"
The Independence Day (February)
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SHROVE TUESDAY (February)
Shrove Tuesday is a Lithuanian festival that
takes place during the seventh week before
Easter. Its name in English means "the time
before Lent". While considered a Christian
tradition, this holiday, in fact, dates as far
back as the pagan times, when it was celebrated
to mark the end of winter. Shrove Tuesday
begins on the night before Ash Wednesday.
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A time for merry-making, Shrove Tuesday in
Lithuania is celebrated with games, dancing and
other revelries. Scores of joyful and frightening
characters in masques gather to bid farewell to
winter and welcome spring.
There are three key figures at the Lithuanian
Shrove Tuesday Festival More, Kanapinis and
Laininis.
Shrove Tuesday (February)
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A major element of the holiday, meant to
symbolize the defeat of winter, is a staged
battle between Laininis ("porker"), personifying
winter, and Kanapinis ("hempen man"), who
personifies spring.
Shrove Tuesday (February)
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More is a big woman effigy symbolizing winter,
usually made of some parts of sledge, a wooden
wheel, hey, multi-coloured drapery and ribbons.
At the end of the holiday, More is burnt on a big
bonfire, with everyone dancing around it and
shouting for the winter to get away from the
yard.

Shrove Tuesday (February)
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Shrove Tuesday is also the last
opportunity for Catholics to enjoy a substantial
meal, before the Lent, a time of abstinence,
comes. Just as in many other countries, it is
pancakes which is the most customary dish on that
day, because they are made using most of the
ingredients which will not be permitted when
keeping the fast.
Shrove Tuesday (February)
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The participants and masqueraders dance and eat
pancakes with a variety of toppings, since round
pancakes are a symbol of the returning sun.
Shrove Tuesday (February)
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FATHERS DAY (June)

• Fathers day is celebrated in Lithuania on the
  first Sunday of June.

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• It was not popular in Lithuania in the Soviet
  times but real Catholics used to celebrate this
  day. After regaining the independence of
  Lithuania the festival became more popular.

Fathers Day (June)
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On this day children do homage to their fathers
as to housekeepers. Children allot much
exceptional attention for fathers on this feast.
They give gifts, sing songs, recite, dance for
fathers.

Fathers Day (June)
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ST. JOHNS DAY

• St.Johns Day is celebrated on the eve of
  the 24th of June. It conforms with the Dew
  (Rasos) festival or Midsummer Day.

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• The most important symbol of this festival
  is the ferns blossom.The longest night of the
  year, it is a festival of enchantment, wonderment
  and myth-making - a time when lovers go to seek
  out that fantastic fern-blossom which only
  flowers on this special night. It can only be
  found once in a lifetime. If you are so lucky to
  find it, you will be very happy and rich in the
  future!

St. Johns Day (June)
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• Other important things are decorating gates
  and making oak leave wreaths, burning fires,
  playing games, doing sorceries, visiting fields,
  giving honour and wreathing people, whose names
  are Jonas or Janina.

St. Johns Day (June)
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Some sayings- sorceries on St. John's day

• in the evening young people can throw wreaths
  with fixed burning candles on them to the pond -
  if the boys and girl's wreaths swim together,
  it means the boy will marry the girl
• you can leap over the fire - you'll improve your
  health thus
• if dew is big in the morning, the year will be
  productive
• if you hear thunder in the morning, the cows
  will give much milk this year.

St. Johns Day (June)
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WORLD LITHUANIAN SONG AND DANCE FESTIVAL
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• The song and dance celebration in Lithuania
  started in 1924. It is the most significant and
  largest cultural event in Lithuania. Now
  approximately 30 thousand lovers of art gather in
  Vilnius to celebrate song and dance.

World Lithuanian Song And Dance Festival (July)
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• After the restoration of the Independence in
  Lithuania they run-up every four years at the
  beginning of July. Song and dance celebration
  events last for 6 days.

World Lithuanian Song And Dance Festival (July)
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• The events of the Song and Dance Festival
  attract Lithuanians from 15 countries all over
  the world. This is why the festival has acquired
  the status and name of the World Lithuanian Song
  and Dance Festival.

World Lithuanian Song And Dance Festival (July)
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• This Lithuanian festival is national
  phenomenon spiritually equal to the ancient Greek
  Olympic Games. In 2003 UNESCO declared the
  Lithuanian Song and Dance Festivals together with
  festivals of Latvia and Estonia a masterpiece of
  the oral and intangible heritage of humanity so
  this festival is included on the UNESCO World
  Heritage List.

World Lithuanian Song And Dance Festival (July)
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THE WEDDING
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• Lithuanians always viewed marriage with
  considerable gravity. It is the most important
  step in life. The marriage bond was unbreakable,
  only death could sever it.

The Wedding
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• In the morning the groom and his attendants
  arrive at the brides home, bring her wedding
  bouquet and she in turn pins up a flower to his
  lapel. Before leaving for church, the brides
  parents bless them both together.

The Wedding
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• In church all the attendants walk in pairs
  behind the bridal couple, starting with the maid
  of honour and the best man during the vows.
• If the candles on the altar burn brightly and
  their flames remain steady and do not sputter,
  the couples life will be peaceful and happy.

The Wedding
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• At the entrance to the reception, the couple
  is met by all four parents. On a plate they hold
  a slice of bread, a pinch of salt and a glass of
  wine decorated with rue.
• Later the festivities start. They are conducted
  by svotas and svocia.

The Wedding
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• On the second day of the wedding the guests
  decide that the svotas is not good they want
  to hang him. Fortunately, the bride saves him.
  Svotas thanks her, gives the musicians a signal
  and leads the bride to the dance floor.
  Meanwhile, the men hang an effigy instead of
  svotas. Everything ends well. Celebration
  continues

The Wedding
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ALL SAINTS DAY (November)
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• Since days of old the Lithuanian nation has
  believed in the afterlife. From the 14th and 15th
  centuries All Saints Day is celebrated on the
  1st of November, All Souls Day - on 2nd of
  November.

All Saints Day (November)
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• On All Souls eve all graves - even neglected
  - are spruced up, decorated with fall flowers
  and wreaths in the evening a candle is lit on
  every grave and left to burn through the night.

All Saints Day (November)
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• People believe that all living in the world
  and all the dead are connected by a strong bond.
  On All Saints Day people pray and ask the
  dead to intercede and help them.

All Saints Day (November)
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• In the evening all the family gathers for
  the holly meal. It is necessary to light the
  candle on the table. It is thought that the fire
  is the symbol of connecting life and death.

All Saints Day (November)
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CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS (December)
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Preparation for Christmas Eve takes all day. The
house is cleaned, food is prepared not only for
the special supper called Kucios but also for
the first day of Christmas.
Christmas Eve And Christmas (December)
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Supper starts when the sun goes down and the
first stars appear in the sky. People usually do
not eat meat, eggs or milk during the supper. It
consists of twelve dishes. Typical dishes are
beet soup, mushrooms, herring and other fish,
bread, boiled or baked potatoes, cranberry
pudding, honey. A plate of Christmas wafers is
placed in the centre of the table. An extra
plate is set for every family member who cant
come home or died last year. It is believed that
the spirit of the departed join the family at the
table on this sacred evening.
Christmas Eve And Christmas (December)
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• The head of the family says a prayer of
  thanksgiving for the blessings of the past year
  and adds a wish that the family would stay
  together. Then he or she breaks and shares his
  or her Christmas wafer with everyone present and
  wishes them a merry Christmas. Then it is time
  to eat.

Christmas Eve And Christmas (December)
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• After supper Christmas Eve magic starts. It is
  said in Lithuania that many strange things happen
  that night animals speak and water turns to
  wine in the wells.

Christmas Eve And Christmas (December)
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In olden times unmarried daughters used to go
outside and bring in kindling wood to be counted.
An even number indicated a marriage in the
coming year. A clear and starry sky on Christmas
Eve was thought to portend a good year.
Christmas Eve And Christmas (December)
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The custom of cutting a small fir tree and
bringing it home to decorate for Christmas was
brought to Lithuania from Germany after World War
I. Santa Claus brings presents for children.
Christmas Eve And Christmas (December)
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In the country Christmas morning used to be
spent at home singing Christmas hymns and carols.
As the day progressed neighbours used to start
visiting each other and exchanging Christmas
greetings.
Christmas Eve And Christmas (December)