Christmas Eve - Kūčios
There are not very many nations in the world that celebrate Christmas Eve so devotedly as the Lithuanians. The celebration of Christmas Eve is part of the late autumn and winter holiday cycle which includes the commemoration of the dead and the celebration of the winter solstice and the New Year.
Christmas Eve customs center round the celebration of the birth of Infant Jesus, and intertwine with the symbolism of Last Supper, the clan- destine social meals of the primitive Christians, agapae (1), Adam and Eve (December 24 is the name day of Adam and Eve).
Christmas Eve is the day for family reunions, both their living and dead members.
Read the complete text at our LIBRARY tab Calender Customs in the Internet Book - The Lithuanians, by Juozas Kudika
Footnote
(1) Agapae: (Christian theology) the love of God or Christ for mankind
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