Spring festivals
- 1. By Dominykas Rudelis and Domantas Jankauskas Gedminai main school
- 2. Introduction Stork Festival Jokes’ or Fool’s Day Palm Sunday Easter May Day Mother’s Day Pentecost
- 3. Spring festivals and traditions from ancient times have been associated with the preparation of the agricultural works. Spring used to come not with a calendar day but with a first lark singing. Usually it was around 24 February (St. Matthew’s day). From ancient times this day used to be called Lark’s day. It was thought that the earlier lark will appear and sing his spring song, the earlier spring will come.
- 5. Around this day storks are coming back. If you see the stork for the first time and he is flying – everything will be succeeded perfectly and quickly. If in the same situation you see a sitting stork – everything this year will go slower. To see a flying stork for unmarried girls meant that this year they will marry. Sitting stork – that they will still stay at parents house. To see a flying stork for the child – meant that he will “fly” to a higher class. Standing stork – that he will stay in the same class for the second year.
- 7. From ancient times this day is used to be celebrated not only in Lithuania but in whole Europe also. Formerly Fool’s or Joke’s day used to be associated with the success of the divination in human’s life that year. It was thought if don’t fool anyone at that day, the year will be unlucky for you.
- 9. In the Catholic Church liturgy, palm celebration was introduced in 5th century. It is believed that lands, animals and trees, and houses touched by palms on this day will maintain health and wealth, and will protect from thunders all families.
- 11. We celebrate Easter annually, but do you know the meaning of it? Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday of the full moon after the vernal equinox. In Lithuania the origin of the word „Vėlykos“ (Easter) means „souls“ as our ancestry used to visit graves and bring some eggs on this day.
- 13. Our ancestry used to celebrate May day on the first week of May – as they heard a singing cuckoo for the first time. A ritual dance „ Gegužė“ (May) was popular among the youth. Tarp jaunimo buvo paplitęs apeiginis šokis „Gegužė“.
- 15. Mother‘s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. This celebration for thew lithuanians is knows from the ancient times. On this day children and men wishes all the best and they do all the household tasks.
- 17. Pentecost is celebrated on the seventh week after the Easter. Livestock and vegetation is worshiped during this celebration. For citizens this celebration is not as imoprtant as Christmas or Easter, because the biggest attention is focused on domestic animals – such as cows... In folk we still have alive proverb „Why are you stearing like a Pentecost cow“.