The Gods are still alive! Brush wth the Gods in New Zealand

The following is an extract from my journal that was inspired by my holiday in New Zealand. Enjoy

Lietuvonis was the rain deity.

Medeina,Goddess of the forests.
Eþerinis, a spirit of lakes
Upinis, a spirit of rivers
Blizgulis, a god of snow. His name means "that who glitters."
Bangpûtys, the god of the seas and storms
Mokas, a stone with an ability to teach people, sometimes they are found in families - with wife Mokienë and children Mokiukas
Perkunas,The Thunderer,The Showerer"he strikes down the trees" and destroys "the wicked (clouds)," at other times in folklore, when Perkunas speaks a wonderful gleam is accompanied with his words which brings refreshment and gives birth to plants for man's enjoyment.

These are but a few of the Gods that I feel I have drawn closer to understanding their divine Natures. No matter what you call them in your own tradition, the spirit or energy is still the same. Geoff,Tre and I just returned from an amazing trip to New Zealand, where The Goddess of Nature is still very much alive in her Mighty, Awesome magnificence.
As most of you know me,my feelings for the Gods and Goddesses run deep. I have humbling feelings of insignificance when I am in the awesome Majesty present in the holy places in Nature. Words cannot express what the Gods have given to me through visiting New Zealand.

The Mighty Power of The Goddess of the Forests of Ancient times,that even today,still contain that sacred Power that the Ancient People reverred Medeina, to the Balts, this Goddess of the Forests, represents the Earths Power which comes from the Eternity of Eternities. Medeina is great, in war and peace, her name was used for strength and protection. Medeina still lives in the hearts of her people. She continues to sustain the cycle of life and death in her hands,as her ecosystem revolves and replenishes continually and so must we if we are to survive. The Goddess of the Forest has taught me to be humble and know my small place in this World is still special enough for her to sustain and nourish.

Gods of Stone and Rock,through your mighty peaks and in your Holy places, you have taught me your wisdom. Your Wisdom of how to last through the ages as you have,slowly eroding and changing with your environment, with our World. You are not as unchanging or unyielding as I once thought. Though your core essence remains the same,your exterior,though firm in its constitution, will eventually erode,change shape and appearance, just as all life must. Just as I must remain firm in my ways to create and maintain harmony in my life but not totally unyielding to the elements that may at times need to reshape you.

The Gods of Water,in so may forms did we meet in New Zealand. Water, Snow and ice,.as Lakes,Waterfalls, Mighty Rivers,Streams and Springs that bubble up with the Living Healing Waters from deep within the Earth,and of course Oceans that go on forever, sustaining all Life. The constant cycle that Water has taken from the beginning of time that continues to maintain and Nurture all Life. From Springs that well up from deep underground caves and caverns,which flow onto the creeks, rivers,lakes and onto the Ocean and eventually to the clouds of the Sky where the Thunderer Perkunas sends back to Earth to Bless all Life again. The timeless patience and the endless toil of these Gods are recognised and honoured. Your Tireless and eternal reformation of this planet is not given enough credit in our modern world. You teach me of the profound secrets of your life which will always create,erode and refashion the world around us. Water teaches me to keep these secrets Holy and it will transform you as necessary throughout this life and onto the next,just as water transforms many times on its journey from the Earth to the Sky and back again to the Mother Earth from which it sprang.

The combination of these 3 Mighty forces at the same time manifests a vortex of Power that can make you tremble and even reduce you to tears. If you appease the Gods, they will look after you. Fair statement,but some may not know how to appease these Gods. It's simple really and they don't demand alot. Honour and Respect appeases the Gods. This means-No littering,No spitting or urinating in sacred waters,helping and defending nature, not raping Her. For example,by putting a birds Nest Fern upright so it might grow easier rather than taking it home for the Garden. Also, most important is to say a short prayer to the Spirits, Gods and Goddesses of that area,to give them honour and ask them to keep you safe.
I hope my account of my recent brush with the Divine will help anyone on their own journey to connect with the World we live in.

Zemyna Protect
Laima Bless
Steve

"Australian/Lithuanian Baltic Pagan celebrations invites you to Zolines" 14/2/10

An open invitation is extended to the Pagan Community to come celebrate the following Baltic Autumn tradition. Even if you know little or nothing about this Feast, come along anyway and join in. You'll be in for a new wonderful Pagan experience with a great group of friendly people. These events are organised to foster the Pagan community no matter what path/tradition you follow and just might add to your own awareness of this divine and beautiful world in which we live.

Description             

Agricultural celebration of the coming of Autumn and regeneration of nature.

Ritual to bless grasses and flowers, to later be used for healing and purification smudging.

Honour is given to the Goddess of great fertility and abundance, the Goddess of Earth and the Goddess of Bees.

Gathering program outline

·         Everyone who passes through the "Green Gate" is greeted with a jug of blessed water which is poured into your hands; with this blessed water you then wash your hands and face. Moving along you will find another person with a towel with which to dry yourself. The two-fold meaning of this ritual is similar to Wiccan smudging. One meaning is to cleanse or purify oneself before ceremony and also, that those who partake of this ritual agree that they are willing participants in this celebration. In the Baltic tradition most, if not all, gatherings begin this way.

·         Participants then split into two groups. One group walks clockwise in a circle through the gate and the other group walks anti clockwise in a circle through the gate greeting each other as you pass. This continues three times or until all participants have greeted each other. Everyone then enters the building or festive area where the celebration is to take place.

·         A greeting is given by the host who briefly explains why we have gathered.

·         The Fire Rite is performed where an elder or volunteer fire woman or fire man lights the fire on the altar. Meanwhile, without speaking everyone just observes and watches as the fire grows strong. In the ancient Baltic faith, fire was not from this earth but from the heavens in the sky and through fire we may communicate with our Gods and Goddesses. Most of us know the mesmerising effect of fire, this is surely a great aid to meditation and connection to the Divine, which can be found in the leaping flames.

·         When the fire is strong an elder or a volunteer help mate approaches the altar and sprinkles salt into the fire three times each time saying “Hearth Goddess be satiated”.

·         The same person or another volunteer then makes an offering of water to the Goddess of Water saying “here is some water for you to bathe yourself, if needed”.

·         The same person or another volunteer then addresses the Goddess of Fire saying ”we make a bed for you here, please do not wander about this house (area)”.

·         The elder or another volunteer then addresses Mother Earth; after kissing the earth, offerings to Mother Earth are then poured/placed into the fire. All participants then are free to make their own offerings to Mother Earth by placing flowers, bread, beer or whatever each participant chooses.

·         A ritual called “Strengthening by Fire” is carried out; where, one at a time, each person draws the heat from the fire to their face (like splashing water on the face).

·         The Gods/Goddesses who represent the cause for our gathering are then honoured; one by one each person gathers their bouquet, holds it over the fire and then places it by the altar.

·         Everyone walks around the altar 3 times while chanting.

·         The Fire Rite is concluded and all participants move onto the feast. No one may put out the fire during the gathering and care must taken to treat it with honour e.g. no spitting or urinating on the Fire (not that anyone would).

·         Various simple rituals may be carried out throughout the feast e.g. it might entail offering food to the ancestors on a separate plate such as at the Autumn feast for the Dead, toastings (blessings) are commonly practiced, various divinations may be conducted.

·         After the activities around the feast table have concluded, people may continue to socialize, dance or sing. Telling of folk stories are also encouraged at this time. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to lead a song, perform a song or just join in. Joy of community is the main focus of these gatherings.

·         The fire is extinguished at the end of the Feast.

Talk for Zolines (Festival of Meadow Grass) - Australias first Lithuanian Pagan gathering 14/2/10

Welcome to Australias very first gathering of Pagans to celebrate Baltic Sacred Days. I'm so happy to see so many of you here today on this special day. All of us come from such a diverse range of paths mostly European represented by Old European and the Indo European .Some in the group also have their faith in the Asian pagan paths as well. We all have some understanding that we share common beliefs as Pagans. To put it simply many  pagans across this Earth share a belief in the sacredness of Nature where every Earth born objects ,animate and inanimate, from plants and animals to the Waters and Rocks is full to the brim with lifes strength granted by Mother Earth. They are all full of Earths power, although in each the power is of various shape and form. All that is alive is a sign of the Earths kindness.
Another shared belief is belief that it is necessary even advisable to give honour to the Ancestors who paved the way for us today. 


Today, you have shown me that this Pagan community on the Central Coast, has the ability to transcend the semantics and terminologies of religion and become one global community of Pagans. Mother Earth is still our Earth Mother no matter which name we use for her. Father Sky is still Father Sky no matter what name we use. I do believe that certain names that have been in use for such a long time do embody a special power that we can draw upon and for this reason they will be used in our giesmes(prayers) and daina(songs) during these gatherings but I do not impose you to use these names and it may be some time before you feel comfortable to speak them if ever. There is no pressure either way. As you all know the Gods and Goddesses are universal, so whatever name you identify with is fine. There is no compulsion, in the Lithuanian Faith(ROmuva), for people to convert to any Faith, foreign or native. 


When we gather for a Lithuanian svente (festival/gathering) we will be adhering to Lithuanian customs and traditions concerning the celebration. ie we don't caste circles, call quarters or chant in the same way and for the same reason as other ethnic traditions. In Lithuanian tradition, the gathering is centered around the Fire Rite. The Gods and Goddesses are prayed to as somewhat equals. There is no need to beg or plead in prayer but simple requests with promises to honour (in word and actions) the particular God, is sufficient to gain favour. It is through songs, dances and living in a right way which is believed to appease the Gods but care is taken because each and every God can also be vengeful if disrespected. Long flowery prayers are not necessary. Short quick, memorised prayers (normally said in one breath) is believed to be more powerful and focused as the prayer doesn't get diluted with wandering thoughts. Prayer is said through Fire.


Today I see a bight future for our community through the transcending the limitations of seperatism and embracing a universal understanding that will reveal to us, the divine forces of the cosmos. These forces are still just as relevant today, only in a different way.  As we all know, many people are returning to Pagan ways and many simply have concerns with ecology and water preservation. The same concerns as for us pagans. 


On this special day, we look forward to the coming Autumn and the time of dying. It is a time necessary for the regeneration of nature and the continuation of the cycle of life.
Today you will perhaps learn some new Names for the Gods and Goddesses that you may hold dear in your own life. The names are not as important as it is to know the Energies that represent the various Gods and Goddesses. These celebrations may reveal new aspects of these Gods and Goddesses that hopefully will enrich your own understanding and relationship with them. You may also be introduced to some new Gods or Goddesses that may shine a relevant new light in your own life.

Firstly in Baltic tradition we commence with the Rite of Fire and honour the "Guardian Goddess of home hearth of Fire, grains and women. We call her "Gabija". Through Fire we can commune with the Ancestors,  all Gods and Goddesses. 


Today we will be honouring the Goddess of Earth. Mother Earth is so called because she is Mother of all all the Earthly goddesses and man included. In Lithuanian language the term for man/humans is derived from earth and literally translates as Earthling. Goddess of Earth has many names in many languages but for today we call her  "Zemyna" which simply means earth in the lithuanian language.

The next Goddess that we will honour in our gathering is the original Great Mother of all,she is the Great cosmic Mother who represents great fertility and abundance through the issuing and regulating the rhythm of all life. Known in ancient times as Queen of the Goddesses of  Heaven, Earth, Water, Air and Fire. "Lada" represents the cosmic egg from which the universe was born. Today we will address her as  "Lada" as is done in the baltic Lithuanian Faith.


Bees and honey had special role in pagan religion. People were amazed by organization of bees, which was a lot like human society. In Ancient times, Bees provided wax for the first candles,sweet dishes and mead was made with the honey. In Lithuania Bees were considered on the same level of importance as people. If a dead bee was found, it was buried in the Earth, not left unburied. Neither bees nor honey could be bought or sold, because they were gifts, not products. Bees were considered exceptional, holy, and  workers of the Queen Bee known as Goddess "Austeja". Trees settled by bees were considered holy.  Zemyna, Mother Earth has many daughters and Austeja,Goddess of Bees is but one that we will. This Goddess teaches us the true model of community just as the well organised Beehive is in constant and harmonius activity,all working for the common good of society and the diverse world in which they live..

In Lithuanian Baltic tradition, the Goddess of Bees, Austeja is the Goddess who always guides us to strengthen our community bonds. So with a joyous heart I welcome everyone gathered here today. I am excited to be able to share a little Baltic tradition with any Australian Pagans. I believe we share a common thread that should be celebrated. no matter. These gatherings will from now on will be called Pagan Celebrations with a Baltic Flavour and welcomes all pagans from every path.

A reading of a hymn of ROmuva

A poplar stood by the roadside,

Oh glorious plant of rye (refr.)

From below the roots – the ringing kankles,

In the middle – the buzzing bees,

At the summit – the falcon's children,

A group of brothers rides by,

Please stop, young brothers,

Behold the falcon's children,

Listen to the buzzing bees,

Listen to the ringing kankles,

The kankles rings for our dear father

The bees they buzz for our dear mother

The falcon's children – for our brother

This is the main hymn of the Old Baltic Religion community. It is sung about the mythological world-tree and its three most important parts, which symbolise the three levels of the world. 


The Roots –symbol of the underworld, death, the past, water – the beginning and spring of life. The ringing of kankles at the roots – represents the world of the old, the wise, and the dead. 


The buzzing bees in the middle –represent the world of working, toiling people. 


The falcon's children at the summit –represent the heavens, the world of warriors and heroes. 


Death and life is an uninterrupted cycle of evolution. A tree, even though it drops its leaves in the Autumn, goes into sleep in Winter, but its life goes on and its soul remains alive. Such is man's path as they journey through birth, death and rebirth. The central meaning of this hymn is the equal importance and harmony of these three levels.


Honoring of ancestors – is a link with dead family members and relatives, remembering them on special days. Family, kinfolk, tribe – without contrasting the living and dead, has a perpetual, indivisible connection. Language, songs, customs, feelings, thoughts, are all just a part of this connection. After death, the deceased finds himself among his dead relatives, and during religious and traditional rites, the living and the dead meet. It is a strong field of unity, and oneness, for which the link with earth and native land is very important. In Lithuania it is said "the souls of the dead are the guardians of their living relatives, or their close ones, especially dead parents, who are guardians of their orphan children". 
Ancestors are important; whom in honoring we refer to them as the original mother, forefather and others. The Lithuanians believed that  the living and the dead interrelate and unite through nature and earth. The dead become caretakers of fields and farmsteads. Funerals always used to take place in nature. It was only in later years they moved funerals indoors. 


Just as the Australian Aboriginals, the land is sacred and Emigrants, who left their native land, feel that they need to return to it and in doing so they will rebuild the most important connection. It is believed that the life and death cycle of a family turns in such manner that the roads of both living and deceased create one, single path.
 
Prayers
Kissing the Earth and saying:
Goddess of Earth,Zemyna we honour you as our Mother. From you all earthly life born and to you we shall return. You provide for us a home. You nourish and sustain us with your harvest.
Bread,salt,flowers are offered to the Goddess through the Fire on the Aukuras.
.
We call to you Cosmic Mother Goddess Lada. Mother of all Gods.
You are the universal egg from which life sprang with such great fertility. 
Lada we are grateful to you for our plentiful harvest this year. 
You are help mate and Grand mother to Mother Earth. 
To maintain your harmony of nature we must bid you farewell as you start dying. 
We await your return next springtime when you are reborn as the young maiden once again, to give us your vital gifts. 
You keep order in Nature with your willingness to sacrifice yourself each year for which we are grateful.
 To you we give an offering of the harvest with the hope that you return to us next summer.
  
We call to you Perkunas, God of Thunder Lightning and rain. 

We thank you for waking Nature after the winter slumber.
You send the rains to make the leaves grow on the trees to make the blossoms grow into fruit and to bless us with your harvest.
We are so grateful to you because you gave the wondrous gift of Fire to man from the heavens. You gave us warmth in the cold winter days and light in the dark nights. 
We learnt to cook food  to help nourish us. Without your gifts of Fire and Rain, we would not be what we are today.
Beer offering into the fire after walking three times around Alkas.

We call to Austeja, Goddess of Bees,
Austeja we give thanks for the sweet gift of honey. 
Your Bees Gather pollen from so many of Mother Earths flowers helping the plants reproduce and supplying sweet gift of honey for us and other animals. 
You teach us to live as a loving community, working together both for the benefit their own community and  all other life. 
We ask that you may strengthen our relationships with each other so that we may become a community of bee buddies.

Lithuanian Holidays with Australian references

 Many Lithuanian holidays have merged with Christian holidays, sometimes changing the date of the holiday. The dates of some the Lithuanian holidays have become very confusing due to the Julian and Gregorian calendars that were  simultaneously used in different parts of Lithuania during Czarist Russian occupation (1772/1792/1795- 1918). This problem especially affects the movable Spring holidays, calculated based on the Spring Equinox day.

 Lithuanian Ethnic Religion Calendar Holidays

 Holiday

 Date in Lithuania-LT

 Date in Australia-AU

 Brief Description

_______________________________

 Prieskaledis

 (Pre-Solstice)

 9-20/12-24 December LT

 9-20/12-24 June AU

 Preparation for the Winter solstice Eve

 Preparation for Kucios

 Kucios

 (Winter Solstice Eve)

 20/24 December LT

 20-24 June AU

 Union between the living and the dead. The last day of the Lithuanian year.Family holiday. After reconciliation and forgiveness, everyone sits together at the holiday table. Some of the 13 dishes,(representing the 13 Lunar months), must be eaten by all if a prosperous year is to be had.Many divinations and prognostications are performed.

 Kaledos

 (Winter Solstice and New Year's Day)

 21/25 December LT

 21-25 June AU

 Homage to the Sun and blessings for the new solar year.

 Tarpukaledis

 (Intra-Solstice)

 21 December-2 January/25 December-6 January LT

 21 June-6 July AU

 Days of rest. Traditional women's and men's work is forbidden.

 Pusiauziemis

 (Mid-winter)

 25 January (in older practice: the first new moon, called the foal, after the Winter Solstice) LT

 12 July AU

Synonymous with lunar new year.Krikstas and new year celebration.Badgers, porcupines, and bears leave their caves or turn on their sides. This determines what winter will be like.

Perkuno Diena

(Perkunas Day)

 2 Feb LT

 2 August AU

 Blessing of candles(death candles), linen and ever green trees.Songs and prayers to Perkunas,the mighty Thunderer.

 Gabijos diena

 (Gabija day)

 5 Feb LT

 5 August AU

 Blessing of bread and people.Songs and prayers to Gabija, Goddess of the home hearth,Guardian of Fire.

 Uzgavenes

 (Escort of Winter/Mardi Gras)

 Varies in February LT

 Varies in August AU

 Rite to usher out winter. Costumed people sing and dance as they go visiting.

 Vieversio diena

 (Skylark day)

 24 February LT

 25 August AU

 The beginning of Spring.

 Verba

 (Flower and herb lance)

 Varies in March LT

 Varies in September AU

 Preparation for Spring

 Pavasario lyge

 (Spring Equinox)

 20-21 March LT

 23 September AU

 Welcomes Spring. Blessing renewal of life.

 Velykos (Easter) aka velykiu velines 

(Easter for the Souls/Spirits)

 (The Great Day)

 Varies in April LT

 21-23 Sept 2010 AU

Springtime to honor Ancestors.People exchange coloured and decorated eggs.Egg games played.Blessing of certain foods to ensure you have food all year.People whipped with Verbos and sprinkling with blessed water. Magic of green branch.

Jore; now known as Jurgines

(St George day)

 23 April LT

 30 Sept AU

 Celebrates new growth of Spring. Animals are herded for the first time. The earth cannot be moved on this day. Rituals of bread making Bread was buried in the fields and gardens. After placing a bread roll on the ground a farmer would put one ear to the ground, farmers would listen to the Rye to find out if it will be a good harvest. The God of the Spring Thunder was called Jore or Joris.He evoked the forcres of Life. Jore owned the key to the Land,which when Earth is unlocked Jore sent rain and resurrected all vegetation.Flowers and Herbs were offered to Zemyna Goddess Earth Goddess,Pergubis God of all plants along with 15 other vegetation Gods were honored.

 Sambares

 27 May LT

 30 November AU

 Celebrates new growth of crops

 Sekmines

 Varies in June LT

 Varies in December AU

End of sowing and commence of Summer work.Worship of nature.Houses and cattle adorned with flowers wreaths and Birch.Cattle incensed (smudged) Certain Divinations and Charms made.Similar blessings of grasses in churches as at Zolines and also Blessing Fire and Water. Wedding games played by youth express Pagan beliefs that peoples sexual love and fertility stimulate Earths productivity.

 Pre Solstice Days. Preparation for the Solstice.

 9-20/12-24 June LT

9-20 December AU

 Rasa a.k.a. Kupoline

 (Dew, Herb Pole Day)

 21-24 June LT

 21-21 December AU

Homage to the sun and medicinal herbs. Summer solstice. Mostly celebrated by  young people. Bon fires are kept during the night and until the dear Sun reappears. Wreaths are woven and set adrift,fortunes told,divinations performed, the fern blossom is sought at midnight. The hay harvest begins after this holiday.

 Naujieji metai

 (New Year's Day)

 1 January LT

 1 January AU

 "Tarpukaledis"

(intra-solstice day).

Young people celebrate. The old year is burned. A sub-set of the Kaledos traditions are celebrated. The skies and the heavens predict the future weather and harvest.

 Melu diena

 (Lie day)

 1 April LT

 1 April AU

A successful lie will bring success for the coming year. The beginning of the new work year. Under the Julian calendar, New Year's Day.

 *Rugiu Svente

 (Rye holiday)

 25 July LT

 25 January, Australia Day AU

Blessing of rye and other grain crops at the harvest.

*These festivals are often combined.*

 *Prinokimo Svente

 (Ripe holiday)

 26 July LT

 26 January AU

 End of the rye harvest. The first new bread is baked. Berries are ripe.

 Zoline

 (Meadow Grass celebration)

 15 August LT

 15 February AU

Coming of autumn. People gathered grass from their fields and gardens and brought it to churches to be blessed. Rye, wheat and oat ears were tucked into these grass bundles. In the spring, these ears were crushed and sprinkled on the seeds to be planted. Other bundles of blessed grasses were used as medicine, as protection from lightning strikes and to be sewn into coffin pillows. Families always tried to gather together on this day to ensure the coming year would be a productive one. The spring crop harvest begins

 Dagotuves, Rudens Lyge

 (Autumnal Equinox)

 20-21 September LT

 21 March AU

 Harvest celebration

 Rudens Sambores

 28 October LT

 28 April AU

 Ilges a.k.a. Velines

 (Lengthening, Day of Shades)

 2 November EU

 21 March-2 May AU

Remembrance of the Dead. Reconciliation between the Living and Dead.Donations are given to elgetos. Old and ill people, who cannot make enough to eat, become elgetos.

 Sources: JonasTrinkunas,ed.Of Gods and Holidays.[ Vilnius ]:Tverme,1999.110-111.Jonas Trinkunas.Baltu tikejimas: Lietuviu pasaulejauta,paprociai, apeigos, Zenklai. Vilnius : Diemedzio leidykla, 2000. 45.Prane Dunduliene.Lietuvui Sventes: Tradicijos, paprociai, apeigos. Vilnius: Mintis,1981.

 Australian references by Steven Kryzius

 Brief description of Other Lithuanian Agricultural Holidays that are not relevant to Australian seasonal cycle

Trys Karaliai

(Three Kings)

 6 January LT

The end of"Tarpukaledis" (intra-solstice days). Costumed people walk about in celebration.

 Blaziejus

 (Blase)

 3 February

 Fir branches and linen are blessed.

 Vieversio diena
(Skylark day)

 24 February

 Skylarks return.

 Kazimierines
(Casimir)

 4 March

 Skylarks begin their songs

 40 pauksciu diena

 (40 bird day)

 10 March

 40 species of birds return.

 Pempes diena, Juozapines

 (Pewit day, Joseph)

 19 March

 Weddings are allowed

 Bloviesciai, Gandro Svente

 (Stork holiday)

 25 March

The stork brings back a kiele (wagtail), which kicks away the ices. Storks are immitated at home, walking around like a stork. Spring is greeted. The storks returns in the evenings.

 7 miegantys broliai

 (7 sleeping brothers)

 10 July

 Predicts the weather for the next 7 weeks or days.

 Skaplierna

 (Scaplar)

 16 July

 Beginning of the rye harvest

 Laurynas

 (St Lawrence)

 10 August

 The beginning of turning to autumn.

 Baltramiejus

 (St Bartholemew)

 24 August

 Linen (flax) is pulled. The stork leaves and takes evening with him. Warm summer days end.

 Uzgimimo Svente, Semene

 (Flax planting Festival)

 8 September

 Rye is planted

 Mykolines

 (St Michael)

 29 September

 Potato digging. The weather forecasts the weather for fall and winter.

 Martynas

 (St Martin)

 11 November

The last holiday of Fall. Some hired hands end their work year.

Andriejus 

(St Andrew)

 30 November

 Winter begins. Herders are sent home. Wedding predictions and foretelling begin (cherry branches are soaked).

Source: Stasys Gutauskas.Lietuviu liaudies kalendorius.Vilnius:Vyturys, 1991. 16-19.