meals on different occasions
TRANSCRIPT
Types of food on different occasions:
Christmas EVE
Geel, Belgium17-21 February, 2014
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained therein
LLP Comenius-Multilateral School Partnership Project 2013-2015
Plunge Senamiestis School, Lithuania
Christmas Eve-KŪČIOSIt is one of the most important celebrations for Lithuanians.
During Kūčios Lithuanians used to say goodbye to the old year and celebrate the upcoming New Year. Now Kūčios is
identified with the Christian feast – the eve of the birth of Jesus. Christmas Eve is closely related with the winter
solstice.
It is the day of cleaning, both inside and outside the house. It has always been very important to clean the whole house, change bedding and clothes. Lithuanians also used to go to the bathhouse. And they still do that. People try to be nice to each other, pay all their debts and have confessions with the priest.
Christmas Ever supper is more important in Lithuania than Christmas dinner. Preparation for the holiday takes all day. Food is prepared not only for
the special supper but also for the first day of Christmas.
By the way, all pictures in the slides are authentic, taken by our project students and teachers. So, “all
rights reserved”!!!
Christmas Eve Supper is special and traditional. The whole family
gathers together. All family members make an effort to come
home for the Christmas Eve Supper. Perhaps not so much for the meal as for the sacred family
ritual which draws the family members closer, reuniting
everyone and strengthening warm family ties.
The whole family gathers together
The table is prepared as follows: a handful of fine hay is spread evenly on the table. This is a reminder that Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger on hay.
The table is then covered with a pure white tablecloth, set with plates and decorated with candles and small Christmas
tree boughs. A cross is an essential element on a Christmas Even dinner
table.
If a family member has died that year or cannot attend the meal (only for very serious reasons) an
empty place is left at the table.
The meal served on Christmas Eve doesn’t include meat, milk
products or eggs. It consists of twelve dishes. They symbolise the
twelve months of the year, and according to the Christian
traditions twelve Apostles of Jesus.
Typical dishes
Herring soup
Boiled potatoesand ....
You had the chance to try it in Plunge during the first meeting. It is ground hemp with salt (cannabis).
Kūčiukai(small Christmas Eve cookies)
Poppy seed milk
Mushrooms
Red beet salad with beans
Herring
and other fish
Cranberry pudding
People wait for the first star to sit down at the
Christmas table.
Christmas wafers
(God’s Cakes)
is the first Christmas Eve dinner meal.
Each family member is supposed to share his/her Christmas wafer with all the other members of the family as a ritual of continuity and sharing.
The mother takes an apple after the wafers have been shared and gives it to the father who cuts it into as many pieces as there are diners.
Christmas Eve and Christmas itself are the most archaic and outstanding festivals.
That’s why our grandparents and parents try to preserve the traditions as much as
possible.
On the other hand, times change and something new becomes acceptable. It is
natural...Now we will show you what Christmas Eve tables looked like at our project students’
homes.
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Fortune telling
On Christmas Eve people like predicting future.Hay has a magic meaning. People take straw from under the
table cloth, if it’s long-you can expect to have a long life, a short one-short life. Thick straw means a rich and happy life.
If you are not married put your hand in to the bowl with Kučiukai or nuts and grab as many as you can. If the number is even –you will marry next year, if
not-you will remain single..
A pot of water is boiled ,then two pieces of coal are dropped into the water. If the coal come together,
there will be a wedding
Everyone is expected to eat some of each dish served.
Usually the Christmas Eve table is not cleared the night as people believe that their ancestors and other member of their family come home for supper
on this night.After Christmas Eve supper we go to
church to Midnight Mass (which is still called Berneliu – Shephard’s Mass)
Christmas Festivities
Christmas is a joyful and warm family holiday
Thank You