Kūčios facts for kids
Kūčios (Lithuanian pronunciation: [ˈkuːtɕɔs]), also called Kūtės in the Samogitian dialect, is a special traditional dinner in Lithuania. It happens on Christmas Eve, December 24th. This family meal mixes old pagan traditions with Christian ones. While some old customs are not as common today, Lithuanians still love to share this dinner with family and friends. The main Christmas celebrations usually happen on Christmas Day itself.
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Why Kūčios is Important
Families make a big effort to be home for the Kūčios supper, even if they live far away. It's not just about the food; it's a sacred family ritual. Kūčios helps families feel closer and makes their bonds stronger. If a family member has passed away that year or cannot be there for a very serious reason, an empty spot is left at the table. A plate is set, and a chair is pulled up, but no silverware is placed. A small candle is lit on the plate. People believe the spirit of the missing family member joins them for Kūčios.
Getting Ready for Kūčios
Preparing for Kūčios takes all day, and sometimes even starts a week before. On Christmas Eve, the whole house must be super clean. All bed sheets are changed. Everyone attending Kūčios must bathe and put on clean clothes before dinner. Before sitting down, people make up with neighbors and forgive anyone they've had problems with. The twelve special dishes for the evening meal are made during the day. Food for Christmas Day is also prepared.
Fasting Traditions
Traditionally, people would fast and not eat meat all day on Christmas Eve. Even though the Catholic Church now says you can eat more, most Lithuanians still follow the old custom of avoiding meat. It is very important that the Christmas Eve dinner has no meat dishes. If it did, it wouldn't be called Kūčios anymore; it would just be a regular meal.
Setting the Table
The Kūčios table is set in a special way. First, a bit of fine hay is spread on the table. This reminds everyone that Jesus was born in a stable and laid on hay. Then, a pure white tablecloth covers the hay. Plates are set, and the table is decorated with things that represent life and strength. These include fir branches, candles, and a bundle of rye. Live flowers, especially red or white poinsettias, are usually not used.
The Kūčios Dinner
Dinner traditionally begins when the first star appears in the sky. This symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem that led the shepherds to Jesus. If it's cloudy, the head of the house decides when it's time to eat. The meal usually starts between six and seven in the evening.
Apples on the Table
In some parts of Lithuania, apples are placed on the table. December 24th is the feast day of Adam and Eve. The apples remind people of how the first parents sinned. They also recall how the world was saved through Mary, the Mother of God, who followed God's will.
If apples are used, the mother cuts one into pieces for everyone. She gives the first piece to the father. This reminds them of when Eve gave Adam the apple. Then, the rest of the apple pieces are shared with everyone at the table.
Why Twelve Dishes?
The reason for having twelve different dishes has both old pagan and Christian meanings.
- Pagan Beliefs: Long ago, pagans had nine different foods for Kūčios. This was because their old calendar had nine months. Another tradition said thirteen dishes were for the thirteen lunar months. Later, this changed to twelve because of the solar calendar.
- Christian Beliefs: For Christians, the twelve dishes represent Jesus' twelve apostles. It's easy to see how the old pagan ideas might have been changed by early missionaries.
What Food is Served?
The Kūčios meal has very specific dishes. There is no meat, no dairy, and no hot food.
- Fish: Common dishes include Silkė (herring) served with different sauces, like tomato, mushroom, or onion. Smoked European eel, called Ungurys, is also popular.
- Vegetables: Boiled or baked potatoes and cooked sauerkraut (without meat) are often served.
- Drinks & Desserts: Spanguolių kisielius (cranberry kissel), cranberry pudding, and mushrooms are common.
- Special Bread: Kūčiukai or šližikai are tiny, hard biscuits. They are eaten with aguonų pienas or aguonpienis (a poppy seed "milk").
- Other: Multigrain breads with honey and margarine are also served, as butter is a dairy product and not allowed.
According to experts, Kūčiukai are a very old type of ritual bread meant for souls. They are tiny because souls don't have bodies. There are many of them because there are many souls. All the food served should be made from ingredients found in Lithuania during winter. This is because people long ago used food they had dried, pickled, or saved from summer and fall. The meal is usually served with water, homemade cider, or fruit juice.
Old Kūčios Rituals
In the past, people did many rituals during Kūčios to try and predict the future or ensure good luck. These are not as common now, but they were once very popular.
- Pulling Hay: You pull a stem of hay from under the tablecloth without looking. The person with the longest straw will live the longest. The one with the thickest straw will have the best life. A bent straw means changes are coming. A straw with a fork in it means many decisions ahead.
- Shadows on the Wall: While eating, look at the shadows on the walls made by candlelight. If your shadow is big and clear, it means a good year with no sickness. If your shadow is skinny or shaky, the year might be tough.
After the Meal
After dinner, everyone either goes to sleep or attends the midnight mass, called the Shepherds' Mass. The food is left on the table overnight. People believe that the spirits of family members who have passed away will visit the home during the night. The food left out makes them feel welcome. It was thought that the baby Jesus allows all departed souls to visit their families on this night.
Other Kūčios Traditions
Kūčios evening is full of old traditions, many of which came from pagan beliefs before Christianity arrived in Lithuania. These traditions were often about predicting the future or ensuring good luck for the coming year.
Wedding Predictions
Many Kūčios traditions focused on weddings, especially for young women. Here are a few old customs:
- Rooster and Hen: After dinner, a rooster and hen are taken from under the stove. Their tails are tied together. If the rooster pulls the hen towards the door, a wedding will happen soon. If he pulls her back under the stove, no wedding.
- Ring in Water: A young woman drops a ring into a half-filled glass of water. The number of ripples tells her how many years until her wedding.
- Needles in Water: Two needles are dropped into a plate of water. If they come together, a wedding will happen.
Animal Welfare Traditions
On Christmas Eve, people also paid special attention to animals. This was to make sure they stayed healthy and had many babies.
- Hay for Animals: Hay from the supper table was later given to the animals to eat.
- Eating Together: To make sure animals stay together in the summer, the whole family must eat the Kūčios supper together.
- No Spinning: No spinning should be done on this day. It was believed that spinning would make animals drool.
- Milk Pots Outside: After supper, the lady of the house would take all milk pots outside. She would place them around the farm. This was to ensure the cows would give lots of milk next year.
