December 24th - Kūčios (Christmas Eve)
Christmas Eve (Kūčios, December 24th) is even more celebrated than the Christmas
itself. That evening whole family reunites to eat a special vegetarian (fish permitted)
supper that must include at least 12 meals, and every participant should taste each
meal. A prayer is said before that supper. The first meal is always the flatbread wafers
(Lithuanian: Kalėdaitis). Everyone starts with a separate wafer but is expected to break
it down and give every other participant its piece. Only after all the pieces are
consumed the other meals may be tasted.
December 25th - Kalėdos (First day of Christmas)
December 26th - Kalėdos (Second day of Christmas)
Lithuania’s nutrition
Lithuanian cuisine features the products suited to the cool and moist northern climate of
Lithuania: barley, potatoes, rye, beets, greens, berries, and mushrooms are locally grown,
and dairy products are one of its specialties. Since it shares its climate and agricultural
practices with Northern Europe, Lithuanian cuisine has some similarities to Scandinavian
cuisine. Nevertheless, it has its own distinguishing features, which were formed by a
variety of influences during the country's long and difficult history.
Influences
Because of their common heritage, Lithuanians, Poles, and Ashkenazi Jews share many
dishes and beverages. Thus there are similar Lithuanian, Litvak, and Polish versions of
dumplings (koldūnai, kreplach or pierogi), doughnuts spurgos or (pączki), and blynai crepes
(blintzes).
1st Junior High School of Sitia
Greece