Christmas

Traditional Christmas is a combination of Christian customs. Before Christmas, people will put a
Christmas tree, cribs and electric decorations. Christmas takes place on December 24. That evening, the
whole family will unite to eat a special vegetarian dinner. There must be at least 12 meals on the table,
and everyone should try every meal. Prayer is said before dinner. Flat wafers are always the first meal
(in Lithuanian: Kalėdaitis). Everyone takes a wafer and shares it with others. Only after the wafer you can
taste other meals. As elsewhere, children receive gifts during Christmas. Saint Nicholas, known in
Lithuanian as Kalėdų senelis, visits at night between 24 and 25 days and leaves the presents under the
Christmas tree at home.

During the first day of Christmas (December 25), the family meets for dinner, while the second day of
Christmas (December 26) is also a state holiday. The holiday season ends with the less popular Epiphany
(January 6), commemorating the three kings (magicians) who they visited baby Jesus.