Christmas Eve: small breads for us and our ancestors

Small, stale balls of wheat or rye flour were baked to feed the ghosts visiting the house. It is believed that they replaced one of the most important ritual dishes - Christmas Eve, made from various grains, intended to remember and honor the dead during the holidays. (Grain symbolizes life, harvest, abundance.)

There are over 20 synonyms of Christmas Eve

Since Christmas Eve is a food for dark, calm times – fasting, traditionally its composition was simple, without milk or eggs, only seasoned with a handful of poppy seeds or sugar. They are also called šližikai, prėskučiai, parpeliai, kleckučiai, kalėdukai... In total, there are over twenty synonyms of kūčiukai.

"Poppy seeds, which are still mixed into traditional Christmas Eve dough and served with poppy seed milk during Christmas Eve dinner, symbolize fertility, abundance and a special connection with ancestors in the old Baltic culture. Therefore, on Christmas Eve, sharing Christmas Eve is still a symbol of communion, remembrance of one's roots, relatives who have passed away, and the abundance of home. Traditionally, Christmas Eve is left overnight and on the Christmas Eve table so that the ghosts of loved ones can feast on them," says Gailė Vanagienė, ethnologist and coordinator of cultural activities at the Vilnius Ethnic Culture Centre.

According to her, Lithuanians have long cherished a special bond with their ancestors and have preserved the authentic old traditions of the Christmas Eve celebration, and Christmas Eve is one of the dishes that are closely related to these rites and should be cherished.

From tradition to new flavors

"Although Lithuanian Christmas Eve cakes retain a clear traditional shape, today consumers choose very different versions of them: from classic, crispy to softer ones, reminiscent of tiny buns. Christmas Eve goes well with traditional poppy seed milk or as a snack. In the assortment, we also have hemp seeds rich in seeds, as well as soft Christmas Eve cakes with a richer texture, for those who like moist baked goods," said Aurimas Matikonis, Sales Director of Vilnius Bread.

From our data, we can see that soft Christmas Eve cakes are more popular than crispy ones: 55 vs 45%.

Shoppers' favorite seasonal pastry

"Trade data show that Christmas Eve remains one of the most popular December products, and their sales are growing steadily every year. Last year, their sales increased by about 20 percent. We expect growth this year as well, because we have introduced a novelty – Sugar Lambs: these are dessert Christmas Eve cakes with sweet glaze, perfect for pampering during the holidays.

Buyers start to be interested in Christmas Eve in November, and we record the highest demand in mid-December and just before Christmas Eve. After Christmas, the attention subsides, although they are still sold until New Year's Eve," said Aurimas.

According to him, the fact that Christmas Eve can be bought only during the Christmas period also increases their uniqueness. "Vilniaus Duona" offers four types of Christmas Eve cakes in its assortment: traditional classic, soft Christmas Eve cakes, Beata cuisine with hemp seeds and poppy seeds, and this year's novelty – Sugar Lambs, with sweet glaze.

Included in the Compendium of Intangible Heritage

Christmas Eve, which is celebrated in the country, is included in the Compendium of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Lithuania. Last year, Lithuania initiated an application together with Poland and Ukraine to include Christmas Eve in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List.