As Christmas time is coming, there is very important tradition for lithuanians to prepare their spirits for Christmas festivities (for Christians - to meet born Jesus in the manger; for pagans - to get ready for miraculous the longest night of the year and get strength and wish for prosperity in the next year). There are 3 important things to do no matter if you are religious or not (this tradition was very important during the soviet times, when people could not legally go to the church or even celebrate at home, KGB was persecuting any form of celebrating Christmas Eve, my family always celebrated it in the darkness with one candle and the cross in the middle of the table):
No. 1 - to ask forgiveness to each other and share the holy bread (KalÄ—daitis) and wish them be healthy, live with hope and joy;
No. 2 - to be clean, white (in spiritual meaning), be ready to accept God's gifts and celebrate it with the great Joy;
No. 3 - to be with your Family and Community (people would travel thousands of miles to be together, especially when people were deported to Siberia everyone had a huge passion and a life dream to come back and celebrate Christmas together again).
This year, on 13th of December 2025, 11 a.m. everyone no matter their religion (christian or pagan) is welcomed to the Lithuanian Mass at St. Joseph`s Catholic Church, 65 Harrington Street, Hobart. Father Juozas Deveikis is coming from Melbourne and will bring the holy bread (Kaledaitis) for all of us.
After the Mass we will gather in the chapel to share tea and Lithuanian style food (please bring the plate for yourself and the members of the community).
Please bring your family members, friends (even if they are very old, very young or do not speak lithuanian)!!!
Let`s celebrate all together and bring the everlasting Joy and Happiness to our Hearts and Souls!!!
