Pagan
traditions inflect Lithuanian Christmas
celebrations. It's customary, for example, to serve twelve
dishes at the Kūčios
table. I grew up thinking each dish represented one of the apostles.
It's just as likely the twelve dishes symbolize the months of the year.
Lithuania was the last
European country to convert to Christianity. The incorporation of
pagan customs into the new faith made the Christian rituals seem familiar.
3 comments:
That was the pattern all over the Christian world.
Otherwise, Christmas would be in the Spring, wouldn't it?
PS What food was Judas?
Yes, I once took a college course focused on this topic.
Haha, I don't know, but I suppose it could be one of the sourish herring dishes.
I was watching something last night that noted the Gnostic gospels said, in addition to the 12 men, there were seven women disciples.
I guess they'd be all the sweets after dinner.
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