Easter eggs and Easter Easter eggs and Easter traditions in Lithuaniatraditions in Lithuania

► The word Easter The word Easter means “important day”. means “important day”.

► This day is one of the This day is one of the most important most important Lithuanian traditional Lithuanian traditional festival.festival.

► Easter is not only the Easter is not only the feast of Christ’s feast of Christ’s Resurrection but also Resurrection but also nature is awakening nature is awakening from winter’s sleep.from winter’s sleep.

► It is such an important celebration that we spend It is such an important celebration that we spend over six weeks preparing for it. over six weeks preparing for it.

► And the name of the season is Lent.And the name of the season is Lent.

PreparationPreparation► Palm SundayPalm Sunday► Easter rituals start one Easter rituals start one

week before Easter, on week before Easter, on Palm Sunday. That week Palm Sunday. That week is called the Great Week. It is called the Great Week. It is full of prohibitions, is full of prohibitions, beliefs and archaic beliefs and archaic traditions.traditions.

► Palms (“verbos”) are made Palms (“verbos”) are made of colorful dried wild of colorful dried wild flowers and herbs. Usually flowers and herbs. Usually people take them to people take them to church on palm Sunday to church on palm Sunday to be blessed.be blessed.

Holly ThursdayHolly Thursday

► Holly Thursday is a Holly Thursday is a time for ritual cleaning.time for ritual cleaning.

► On Holy Thursday On Holy Thursday you must wash not you must wash not only yourself but clean only yourself but clean the whole house.the whole house.

Good FridayGood Friday

► On Good Friday On Good Friday people are very sad in people are very sad in respect for the respect for the crucified Christ. crucified Christ.

► Children are forbidden Children are forbidden to make noise.to make noise.

Holy SaturdayHoly Saturday

► On Holy Saturday, On Holy Saturday, people go to church to people go to church to obtain blessed fire and obtain blessed fire and water.water.

► The belief is that they The belief is that they have miraculous have miraculous powers.powers.

Preparing for Easter on Holy SundayPreparing for Easter on Holy Sunday

► The food that will be eaten The food that will be eaten on Easter is prepared on on Easter is prepared on Holy Saturday.Holy Saturday.

► Also on Saturday people Also on Saturday people color Easter eggs.color Easter eggs.

► The eggs are decorated by The eggs are decorated by different methods.different methods.

► In simplest form, they dyed In simplest form, they dyed naturally with onion skins.naturally with onion skins.

► The more elegant eggs are The more elegant eggs are made with the wax-resist made with the wax-resist method.method.

Easter eggs dyed with onion skins Easter eggs dyed with onion skins and leafy herbsand leafy herbs

Easter eggs is scraping with a knifeEaster eggs is scraping with a knife

Easter morning in churchEaster morning in church

► The Easter morning The Easter morning procession is usually procession is usually conducted around the conducted around the church. church.

► We have: Church flags We have: Church flags is hold high, girls strew is hold high, girls strew flowers, the choir and flowers, the choir and all the people sing and all the people sing and the church bells ring the church bells ring loudly.loudly.

Easter DinnerEaster Dinner

► After Easter morning After Easter morning church services, church services, people return to their people return to their homes to dine.homes to dine.

► The meal starts with The meal starts with an egg. Each person an egg. Each person has his own egg and has his own egg and clicking it against clicking it against another’s.another’s.

Lithuanian Easter GrannyLithuanian Easter Granny

► On Easter Sunday, On Easter Sunday, children search Easter children search Easter eggs, which left them eggs, which left them by the Easter Granny by the Easter Granny also known as Velyalso known as Velykė. kė.

► Granny bring the eggs Granny bring the eggs to all good children.to all good children.

Games with Easter eggsGames with Easter eggs

Egg-breaking gameEgg-breaking game

► The simplest is an egg The simplest is an egg breaking game. Two breaking game. Two players holding an players holding an Easter egg and hit Easter egg and hit each other’s egg.each other’s egg.

Egg rollingEgg rolling

► A tree bark with a A tree bark with a smooth inside is smooth inside is placed at an angle and placed at an angle and eggs are rolled down eggs are rolled down through it. through it.

► When the egg hits When the egg hits another egg, which another egg, which had rolled down had rolled down earlier.earlier.

The EndThe End