Lithuanian Months of the Year

The English speaking world, Germanic and some other nations derive the names for the months from Ancient Gods or Roman Emperors. In Lithuania, being an agricultural nation, we find that the months are named after natural phenomenon or the tasks performed at that particular time of year. These names of the months are typical of Lithuania as a nation and depict the Lithuanian way of life.

The months of the year in Lithuanian can be explained as follows:

Sausis (January)-At this time of the year, Lithuania is in the grip of profound Winter. All of Nature is frozen and covered by a thick blanket of snow. Streams, Rivers, Lakes are all covered by ice. No running water can be found anywhere. If it snows in this month, the snow is usually fine, dry (sausis) and blown by the wind. The snow  rarely comes down in wet, heavy and slushy flakes and so the month is called Sausis, dry. When I was in Lithuania in January, 2013, I was amazed at the experience of seeing this dry snow that makes everything glisten. the bare tree branches are always covered in this fine dry snow and blew like dust when there was a slight breeze. It was amazing to actually see and experience this time in Nature in Lithuania. It was also a little scary when driving on unploughed roads, the dry snow has no traction for the wheels of a car and I came a cropper a few times, needing to be towed out of a ditch at least once! :) 

Vasaris (February)-The Winter is coming to an end at this time of year. People are starting to think about Summer (Vasara) and to make plans for Summer tasks. The first thaws begin: The Sun shines more brightly, especially at midday, Water begins to drip down from the roof and by evening time, icicles stretch from the roof tops to become gleaming ice candles. Everyone in the country knows that Winter is not over but there is an eager antcipation that  Spring will soon be here and then Summer (Vasara). When I was in Lithuania, Feburary, 2013, I experienced the weather warming to 1 or 2 degrees and the snow and ice on the rooves started to melt and fall. There were barriers erected to prevent people walking close to buildings incase they were injured or even killed by the falling ice. It was a little uncomfortable when walking around when the snow was wet and slushy but down right dangerous when temperatures drop below 0 degrees, it just turns to ice. It is virtually impossible to stay upright when you walk on ice. I even tore a muscle in my knee and fracture a bone in my wrist as a result of one of these falls. Luckily, it happened near the end of my stay.

Kovas (March)- As most Pagans in the Northern hemisphere are aware, March is a time of change and of struggle (Kova) between the cold of Winter and Spring. In Lithuania this struggle is very apparent. One day it's snowing, the next day it's freezing followed by a warm day and then back again to cold! Snow continues to melt and the hilltops are first to bear their nakedness. In this month some birds return, among them the a large Black Bird with blue and purple sheen to its plumage, called a Rook. The Rook (Kovas) belongs to the crow family (Corvus Frugilegus). The Rooks are seen in scores as they circle tree tops hurriedly making nests and in the fields,marching around in search of food. The air is filled by a chorus of caws and croaks as the Rooks court, build their nests and mate. The sound of the Rooks proclaim that Spring is almost here.Therefore this month has a two pronged meaning: the Winters battle (Kova) with Spring and the returning Rook (Kovas).

Balandis (April)- Spring has arrived and the wild Doves (Balandis) returns in this month. The soft cooing of the Doves can be heard throughout the slowly greening countryside as mate and build nests. So this month gets it's name from the Doves (Balandis) that return to Lithuania in this month of year.

Geguzis (May)- May is the most beautiful month in Lithuania. Everything is greening as Nature starts to sprout and  bloom. Yet another much loved bird returns to Lithuania. In the forests the call of the Cuckoo (Geguze)  can be heard. Lithuanians believed the Cuckoo as a mysterious and magical bird who heralds true Spring. Lithuanians have many superstitions relating to the first  time they heard the Cuckoo which predicted your fortune for the next year.

Birzelis (June)- This month derives its name from the newly budded Birch Tree (Berzas) which is a symbol of the miraculously restored Nature, youth and fertility. A Pagan tradition which still survives today where people  decorate their homes, farms and Animals with Birch branches. (It is also at this time that the Birch trunks are tapped to release to wonderful sap used to make Birch wine.)

Liepa (July)- In the heat of Summer the air is filled with the sweet scent of Linden (Liepa) flowers and the buzzing of busily working Bees can be heard every every where as they collect pollen to make their golden honey. Lithuanians as bee keepers so it is not surprising that the Linden Tree is a much loved Tree in Lithuania. (A surprising phenomenon happens with these Trees at this time also which had me bamboozled for a while when I was there in July. I could not figure out where these drops of water were coming from as I walked around Vilnius. After much inquiry and investigation I found out that it was the dear Linden Tree that was dropping water from it's leaves, would you believe! My family would also stop by Linden Trees to collect the flowers to use for medicine. I remember thinking to myself that these really are my people.)

Rugpjutis (August)- A time of hard work because Rye (Rugai) was a major crop in Lithuania and Rye bread was eaten as a daily staple. This harvest month is named after the cutting (pjauti) of the Rye and as it used to be cut with sickles, the month is called Rugpjutis with means Rye cutting.

Rugsejis (September)- September is related to the cultivation of Rye. Rye is a winter grain so the fields are prepared and seeds sown in Autumn. The Rye germinates and sprouts before the first frost and then hibernates under a thick blanket of snow until Spring when it miraculously revives and begins to grow vigorously. Lithuania has a relatively short Summer and so certain crops must be planted in Autumn so they are fully mature and ready for harvest next season.

Spalis (October)- Apart from Rye, Flax was also a very important crop for the Lithuanians farmers. It was used not only to make cloth the family needed but was also sold as a cash crop for those things that the land could not produce. Flax was exported also so it provided income for the farmer and for the country. The name ,"Spalis", is related to the Flax processing which is done at this time in Autumn. The hard outer stem must be broken to reveal the linen fibres. The crumble particles of the Flax stem are called shives (spaliai) which were often used as roof insulation when constructing new houses or other wise added back to the fields to rot down and improve the soil.

Lapkritis (November)- It is now late Autumn in Lithuania and this month derives its name from the falling of leaves (lapu kritimas) and the onset of frost. November is usually cold, wet and muddy. The Sun makes only rare appearances and as a result, the days are mostly gloomy. The nights are especially dark, suited for get togethers and the telling of horror stories. The dead are also honoured in this month.

Gruodis (December)- The rains and mud of Autumn finally end the ground becomes hard and coarse as it freezes with the cold. Every clod of soil hardens and ice covers the puddles. Roads become lumpy and bumpy. Soil that has frozen into such lumps is called ,"groudas" and hence the name of this month.

I hope you have found this article interesting, Thanks to Danute Brazyte Bindokiene-"Lithuanian Customs and Traditions 1993".
 feel free to leave a comment.  :)