Public Holidays in Lithuania DateEnglish Name January 1New Year’s Day February 16Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania (1918) March 11Day of Restitution of Independence of Lithuania (from the Soviet Union, 1990) First Sunday and Monday of spring with full moon Easter May 1Labor Day First Sunday in MayMother’s Day First Sunday in JuneFather’s Day June 24St. John’s Day July 6Statehood Day August 15Assumption Day November 1All Saint’s Day December 25Christmas

Christmas Eve December 24 th Christmas Eve is the most important holiday of the year, because the whole family gathers for a ritual supper, Kūčios. It is also thought that on Christmas Eve spirits return to their homes. Because of this, no one goes very far from home on the 24th for fear of meeting unfriendly spirits.

Christmas Eve Dinner At sunset, a ceremonial dinner is served. Before sitting down for Christmas Eve dinner everyone has to make sure that they are clean, without angry thoughts, at peace with their neighbours and without any debts. When everyone is sitting at the table the father takes a wafer and offers some of it to every family member or guest at the table wishing Happy Christmas.

Christmas Eve Dinner The table is covered with hay and usually set with twelve meatless dishes, among them kūčiukai (small, hard biscuits with poppies). Places are set at the table for recently deceased family members. Having eaten, the seated people pull hay stalks from under the tablecloth to forecast their fortunes. A long stem means a long life, whereas a short one means that person might not live until next Christmas. After dinner, the table is not cleared off so that the souls of dead family members could gather around it during the night.

Independence Day February 16 th Lithuania declared its independence in With the Act of Independence of February 16th, 1918, Lithuania achieved independence from both Russia and Germany. Unfortunately, this treaty did not last too long … only until 1940 when Lithuania was annexed by the USSR.

Shrove Tuesday Seven weeks before Easter Shrove Tuesday is a merry day of saying goodbye to winter. Masqueraders go to neighbours‘ houses. Many of their costumes are obvious caricature: Shrove Tuesday Jews, beggars, angels, devils, death, goats. When they are invited inside to eat pancakes, they offer best wishes for the coming year. When they are not invited in, they respond with humorous tricks.

Shrove Tuesday. Morė In the villages and now in the cities too, Morė, an effigy of winter, is dragged around and burned at the end of the day.

Day of Restitution of Independence of Lithuania March 11 th The Act of the Re- Establishment of the State of Lithuania was an independence declaration adopted on March 11, Lithuania was the first soviet republic to declare independence from the collapsing Soviet Union. On this day, the victims of fights for Lithuanian independence are honoured, the ceremony of hoisting the state flag takes place and brass band parades, performances by various groups, and concerts are organised.

Easter First Sunday and Monday of spring with full moon Lithuanian catholics go to church for Easter Mass and, afterwards, everyone hurries home. People believe that those who get home the quickest will be successful all year round and will complete all work on time. Ceremonial Easter meal begins with dyed eggs which are believed to have magical powers. But before eating, the family competes to find the strongest egg. Everybody makes a choice and hits his or her egg against those chosen by other family members. The last person with an unbroken shell is the winner and, according to tradition, will be strong all year round.

Rolling Easter Eggs Children amuse themselves rolling eggs. The purpose is to reach the other’s egg and tap it. If your egg hits another egg, you can take it.

St. John’s Day 24 th June Traditionally, people gather on hilltops or by rivers to celebrate the shortest night of the year.Traditionally, people gathered in beautiful spots such as hilltops or by rivers to feast and honor men named John. A large bonfire is set afire. It is thought that the wider the area that is illuminated by the fire, the better the harvest will be.

St. John’s Day Young people gather grasses with which they predict their futures. Girls also wear wreaths and later set them afloat on rivers and lakes to find out if they will marry or not in the following year. Unmarried young men and women sing, dance and jump over the remains of the bonfire until daybreak.

King Mindaugas Day July 6 th Mindaugas (1200 – 1263) was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only King of Lithuania. He was crowned on 6th July, This day is now an official national holiday, Statehood Day.

Meadow grass celebration August 15 th This holiday coincides with the coming of autumn. People gather grass from their fields and gardens and bring it to churches to be blessed.

All Saints’ Day November 1 st Since ancient times, Lithuanians believed that after death, the soul separated from the body continued existing among the living. This day is an occasion to remember the deceased by decorating their graves with flowers, plants and burning candles. This is thought to bring their spirits nearer and to form bond between the living and the dead.