Christmas in Lithuania
The Baltics have always been a mystery to Russians. Like ours, but almost abroad. They understand Russian, but speak with a beautiful accent. Films were shot in the Baltics «about Europe and America», and the famous amber was the object of desire of every woman of fashion. And what if you go to the Baltic coast for the winter holidays and celebrate Christmas in Lithuania?
Caledos and his signs
"Christmas" in Lithuanian sounds "Kaledos", and its obligatory attributes are not only a tree, gifts, visits to relatives and twelve lenten dishes on the table on Christmas Eve. Vilnius residents consider the most important Christmas tradition to stroll through the city, along its intricate medieval-built streets, the width of which is sometimes inferior to the fiat of the early models..
To get to the Old Town is to go through Ostra Brama, once the main gates of the city. Nearby there is a chapel with the Vilnius Madonna revered by both Catholics and Orthodox. The miraculous Image of Our Lady of Ostrobramskoy differs from others ... by the absence of a baby. The name of the icon painter is unknown, why he portrayed her that way - too. It is worth noting that this is a rare image, and therefore hundreds of tourists come to look at the icon when they celebrate Christmas in Lithuania. Silver jewelry in the form of hands, feet, hearts hangs next to the face. They are brought by those who have been healed, thereby showing what exactly they got rid of the disease. Even the Vatican officially recognized the miraculousness of the icon: it is decorated with a crown.
The life of the Old Town flows unhurriedly around the Town Hall Square. The elegant and sparkling Christmas tree resembles the traditional Lithuanian Shakotis cake, and the tents speak eloquently about the holiday, from which the indescribable aroma of cinnamon and ginger flies. Syanis Shaltis and Sneguole - local Santa Claus and Snegurochka - smiling and wishing happiness in Russian and Lithuanian, offer a glass of mulled wine to the tired traveler. And the highlight of the local low-alcohol program is a huge barrel with warmed beer with spices.
Not a single souvenir...
The Baltic Christmas trade is unhurriedly raging, and by the end of the holidays the sellers give away all the remaining goods for half the price. Then here you can buy inexpensively authentic souvenirs - mittens with national patterns, rings and bracelets made of amber with spider beetles embedded in it, 75-degree tincture «Zalgiris» for lovers hotter with smoked pork ears for an appetizer and the same Shakotis cake, which looks like a Christmas tree. Then you can go to the festive table and celebrate Christmas in Lithuania, a country so close and mysterious at the same time..
