Christmas, the ancient festival of the return of the Sun, was known in most pre-Christian European nations. It celebrates victory over the winter's darkness, the virtual start of the new year. Beginning with Christmas, the days begin to lengthen in Lithuania. The dark gloomy days of November and December (and the even darker nights), begin to end. When the festival of the Sun's return was changed to the feast of Christ's Nativity, Lithuanians adopted it with the same enthusiasm and celebrated it with equal solemnity. Yet, in today's Christmas we still find many old customs, especially charms and predictions.

In earlier times, Christmas was celebrated for three days. This was quite feasible in a farming nation for work decreases in the middle of winter, only the household and the livestock need care. All other labor can easily be postponed. The first day of Christmas was so sacred that only the most necessary work was allowed. There was no visiting, no cooking: only food prepared in advance was served. On Christmas morning, even before breakfast, the family sang holy Christmas hymns, then exchanged Christmas greetings and finally ate breakfast.

In the country, early on Christmas morning the hay was removed from the Christmas Eve table and taken to the livestock. The person removing the hay examined whether many seeds - grain - had fallen from the hay. Many seeds signified a good harvest the following year. The hay from the supper table was fed to the cows, oxen and sheep. Horses were excluded because the Bible does not mention the presence of a horse in the stable at Jesus' birth.

After going outdoors, people closely examined the Christmas weather. If Christmas was white, Easter would be green. If it happened that the snow had not yet covered the ground at Christmas, it would certainly snow at Easter. People also tried to remember if they owed anyone anything. All debts had to be repaid by Christmas, otherwise much debt would be incurred all year long.

In more recent times, people stirred from their homes even on the first day of Christmas though they never forgot this was the feast of Christ's Nativity. Neighbors assembled at the home of a larger landowner, sang Christmas carols and other hymns, prayed together and only then did the musicians make their appearance.

The homeowners were the first to dance thus launching the festivities. This signalled the official end of Advent, for entertainment during Advent was shunned or even forbidden.

The Christmas season lasts until the Feast of the Epiphany. During this period every evening is considered a time for recreation. It was a perfect opportunity to go visiting, take refreshments, make merry because heavy toil was not required, the season was too holy for that.

In Lithuania it became accepted to decorate Christmas trees only during the period of independence (especially the second decade). The custom and most of the tree decorations came from Germany. The decorations were mostly made of glass: angels, variuos figures, soldiers, balls, etc. Candy in shiny colored wrappings, red apples and pretty cookies were also hung on the tree. After Christmas, the children were allowed to "pick" the goodies off the tree, while the decorations were put away for next year. Because the trees were lit with real candles, these were lighted only once, after dinner on Christmas Eve. Later the tree's branches were already too dry an people were afraid the candle flames could cause a fire. In Germany, it was customary to decorate the tree for Christmas Eve, then remove the decorations and discard the tree on the first day of Christmas. Lithuanians did not adopt this custom and the tree remained in the home until the Epiphany (the official conclusion of the Christmas season).

Every family should acquire such straw ornaments and use them to decorate its Christmas tree at home. The straw ornaments can be used year after year because they are quite durable. After they are removed from the tree, it is best to suspend them from metal hangers and hang them in the attic or basement covered with a plastic bag to protect from dust. In larger cities with sizeable Lithuanian communities, courses on how to make straw ornaments are offered every year before Christmas. If such courses are unavailable, the straw ornaments can still easily be made at home. We give here the most basic steps used in making the straw decorations: they can be built upon with just a little imagination.

The materials necessary are: a box of white paper or plastic drinking straws; a spool or ball of strong white thread; several long needles with eyes large enough to accomodate the thread selected; a ruler; sharp scissors and imagination.

To begin: cut 8 equal lengths of straw, about 2-3 inches long. Thread the needle with an average length of thread (the end need not be knotted), a long piece is useless for it tangles, wraps around the straws and interferes with the work. Thread four pieces of straw one after another like a necklace by inserting the needle lengthwise. Tie the thread ends and you have a straw "wreath". Do not cut the thread but pull it through two more straws, tie to the opposite end. (see figs. I and 2); thread the last two straw pieces and again secure to the opposite end (fig. 3).

Cut 4 pieces of straw, shorter than the first 8 (all of which are of equal length), for examples if the first were 3 inches long, these 4 can be 2 inches long (of course, pieces equal to the first may also be used. When shorter pieces are used the ornament will be more elongated, when equal lenghts are used, the result will be squared, shorter.) At this point the needle and thread are at the end of the ornament (fig. 4). Reinsert it through one straw piece (any piece) so the needle ends in the middle (fig. 5). Thread one of the newly cut pieces and attach it to the second joint, in the middle (fig. 6). Do this until all 4 straw pieces are secured. We now have an elongated or square "box".

Everything done subsequently is but a variation or elaboration on this basic figure. If the thread ends while workings cut another piece from the spool, thread it into the needle and tie the end to the thread remaining in the ornament. Place the knot so it remains hidden inside a straw piece and cannot be seen.

Cut 8 more pieces of straw, about the length of the other 4. The needle and thread are still in the middle of the ornament where the last 4 pieces were secured. Thread two new pieces and tie them to the other connecting point; thread 2 more and tie again; thread the fith and sixth and tie; thread the seventh and eight and tie. Seen from the end, the ornament looks like fig. 7. This already resembles a star for the points made with the last straw pieces look like rays. If longer straw pieces are used, these points will be longer and sharper. But these "rays" are hanging loose, they swing from side to side. They must be secured. Cut another 4 pieces longer than any before. Determine the length by holding one of the "rays" horizontal, neither up nor down. The new straw pieces must be able to hold the "ray" in that position. All 4 straws must be equal (otherwise the ornament will be crooked). Thread the needle through one straw piece so it comes out at the point. Add the new (longer) piece and secure to the top of the ornament. Thread another straw, bring it to the middle of another point and attach. Draw the needle through the straws that form the point so that it arrives at the end of the point (through 2 straws). Add the third straw, pull it to the top of the ornament and tie off. Do likewise with the last (fourth) straw section. If desired, cut 4 more straws of the same length and perform the same process, securing them to the bottom of the ornament. We now have a very complicated ornament. It can be left as such and hung on the tree or we can continue working and adding more points, attaching small four pointed figures to the bottom and at the end of every point. Such stars may be fashioned with 5, 6 or 8 points. To do this, at the very beginning, instead of 8 straws, cut 10 or 12 or 16; in between add 5, 6 or 8 straw sections and work as above.

Some people like to make chains from straws and wrap them around the tree like necklaces. These chains are very attractive against green background of the tree. They are very simple to make. Take a sharp needle, strong white thread, scissors and white straws. Cut the straws into I or 1/2 inch lengths. Cut on the bias. Pierce straw pieces with the needle and string them on the thread in a long chain.

White straws can also be used to make glued ornaments. In addition to the materials named above, you will need white glue that dries invisible, graph paper (with medium squares) and examples of Lithuanian traditional designs. First draw a design on the graph paper - a tulip, a star, a lily, etc. The design needs not be complicated. Separate motifs, rather than an entire design, are better suited for this. The length of the straws will depend on the length of the design parts. Cut them accordingly. Apply glue to the straw, press it into the appropriate spots on the paper. Use this method to cover the entire design drawn. It takes time for the glue to dry sufficiently (it may be left overnight). After the glue hardens, turn the ornament over and repeat the entire process on the other side, glueing pieces of straw in the appropriate places. Leave to dry. Then, carefully cut away all the paper not covered with straw so it does not protrude from the ornament. Attach a string to one end and hang on the tree. These glued ornaments are also easy to make from real rye or wheat straw. Rye straw is more silvery in color while wheat straw ir golden yellow. Such ornaments reflect the tree lights and are very pretty. The straw may be spilt lengthwise and ironed completely flat. It then lies even flatter on the paper and has more sheen.

Three-dimentional straw ornaments can also be fashioned from real straw. The method is quite similar to the one described above. To prevent the straw from splitting when it is cut (it is very brittle), it must be soaked at least one hour in very hot water (leave the straw in water even if it cools). The soaked straw is flexible - almost rubbery - and is easily cut. If the cut pieces dry out while working, drop them back into the water to soak. The straw must be smooth, uniform in thickness and without bumps (or joints which every wheat and rye stalk has - a joint will prevent the needle and thread from going through the straw). Ornaments made of real straw are very attractive and look great on the tree for they reflect the lights. They are also quite durable if carefully stored or hung, at least as durable as paper straw ornaments.

When the Christmas tree is decorated with straw ornaments, tinsel and other decorations are usually not added. If lights are put on the branches, they are all yellow, not multicolored. The straw ornaments are then shown to the best advantage. Some people prefer to illuminate the tree decorated with straw ornaments with a spotlight placed on the floor.

(Danute Brazyte Bindokiene. Lithuanian Customs and Traditions)