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"Traditions and rituals related towater

MazeikiuMerkelio Rackausko

gimnazija

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Water in Lithuanian FolkCeremonies and Traditions

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Why is water so significant in ourtraditions and festivals?

The world of water was as if a differentworld.

Water was vitally bounded with people.

Water was meant to be a blessed powerand an important tool of lustration.

Ritual bathing meant returning to initialclean state as well as the renewal ofhealth.

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Shrove Tuesday symbolizes theend of winter

It is inadvisable to drink water on ShroveTuesday because this will cause severethirst all year long.

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During the festival water was splashedon all comers: revellers wearing masks,

neighbours going for a ride and guestscrowding in the yard to ensure asufficient amount of rain for plants and

crop the following summer.

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It was customary to take a swarm

of bees for a ride.

A barrel or tube of water was placed in asleigh as well as several merry girls (thebees). Bystanders tried to pour the water

on them so that the bees carried morehoney next summer.

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The element of water becomes more active than usualin forthcoming spring. So the water is very often

mentioned in Shrove Tuesdays songs.

uv ukelm galv ukuoja.

Galv ukuoja, plaukus laiduoja.

Plaukeliai mieli, plaukit pas mielu.Kur mano mielas, vanden semia.

Vanden semia, irgelius girdo.

plaukit swim

vanden semia he is drawing water

girdo waters

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Pentecost or Whitsunday is the end

of sowing and the beginning of

summer works.

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During the Pentecost festival

People worshipped the water because it wasbelieved to have been necessary for theregenerative nature.

Our forefathers did not dare to bathe in lakesand rivers until Pentecost. They thought that evilwater spirits could harm them.

It is also believed that God cleans the water. Soafter Pentecost the water becomes harmless.

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Water and fire are the main worldwideelements of St. Johns day

.

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Water on St. Johns day

Water was thought to be able to fertilizethe land and make it fertile. Thats whythe feast rituals and lots were played

near the water or with water.

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.

On the Eve or EarlyMorning of the Feast

Sick people bathed inrivers and lakesbefore the sun set in

hope to recover. Healthy people did

the same hoping toprevent diseases.

Livestock werebathed as well so thatthey would be healthyand strong.

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During the night of St. Johns

feast From midnight till 3

a.m. the water of allrivers and lakes

becomes active andhas the samestructure as thesanctified one.

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The dew of St. Johns morning isconsidered to be miraculous

The sick wadedthrough the dew.

If you roll in thedewy grass, youwill be like milkand roses.

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St. Johns morning

Masters used to see their crops and shake downthe dew. The more dew there was, the moreharvest they expected.

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The dew heals

Some women walked and gathered thedew in the morning of St. Johns day and

used it as a curative. These women were

blamed for sorcery. Nevertheless, suchwomen were called witchdoctors whichcured country people.

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The wreath of St. John is related

to water

Wreaths are made andgiven girls and boys

names. They are

thrown into the water.The ones that cometogether represent theboy and the girl who

will make a couple.

.

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Water in weddings

Water is a purgatory means as well as thesymbol of prolificacy and wealth, sometimeswater is ascribed to have the power of

impregnation.

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During the wedding

. The couple is met by all fourparents. On a plate theyhold a slice of bread, apinch of salt and a glass

of water. The newlywedsbrake off a morsel ofbread to eat and take asip of water. Both drinkfrom one glass because

they will share everythingin life, everything fromthen on will be donetogether.

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...

When the brideentered the

husbands family, shealso had to ingratiatewith the deities ofwater.

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The daughter-in-law is advised tobathe in the first wedding morning

One of the household women brings the bowl of water. Inorder to thank, the bride gives a towel as a present orthrows a coin into the water.

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Water is the Source of Life

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Thank you

for your

attention