Lithuania highlighted at Meijer Gardens in 2022 Season
Don Astras shared his family’s Lithuanian Christmas Traditions in a presentation on December 4, 2022. Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park highlighted Lithuania this season with their theme of celebrating light. Don’s family has been involved with Meijer Gardens since 1996, which makes that a special tradition for the Astras’.
Christmas celebrations centered around the Christmas Eve meal or Kūčios
The Astras family Christmas celebrations centered around the Christmas Eve meal or Kūčios, which many found interesting and unique. To better appreciate and understand Lithuanian Christmas traditions, Don talked about:
- Lithuania’s geography, brief history and language that makes it distinct from other cultures
- Ursula Astras’ ornaments that are featured on the Lithuanian tree at Meijer Gardens
- The significance of her straw Christmas Tree ornaments
- How Christmas or Kaledos came about in the last pagan country in Europe
- What made the Christmas Eve or Kūčios meal and evening so special, and
- Examining the foods and pastimes at the family dinner on Christmas Eve
Talk of Lithuanian Christmas Traditions stirs the audience
More than 40 people attended Don’s talk about Lithuanian Christmas Traditions. The presentation went smoothly. Don engaged the audience with his family’s history immigrating from Lithuania, mother’s straw art endeavors, traditions, and research. The audience participated and about a third seemed to have Lithuanian blood, especially with questions and comments about surnames, pronunciations, pastimes and foods.
Please connect with your global culture and attend or promote our events to your families and friends. We would love to see you and show you how to keep the Lithuanian folk art alive.