Editing Christmas Eve (section)

=== Lithuania ===
{{Further|Kūčios}}
[[File:Kūčios.JPG|thumb|right|Lithuanian Christmas Eve table with ''kūčiukai'']]
Lithuanian Christmas Eve blends pagan and Christian traditions, as initially it was a celebration of the winter solstice.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kubilius |first1=Kerry |title=Lithuania Christmas Traditions |url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/lithuania-christmas-traditions-1501779 |website=tripsavvy.com |access-date=22 December 2018 |year=2017 |quote=In pagan Lithuania, the Christmas celebration as we know it today was actually the celebration of the winter solstice.}}</ref> Traditionally, Lithuanians believed that animals could talk on that night, and it was possible to predict the future with charms and various games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuania, Christmas in |url=https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Lithuania%2C+Christmas+in |access-date=22 December 2018 |quote=Hundreds of little Christmas Eve formulas and charms offer Lithuanians ways in which to use the events of this evening to predict the future.}}</ref> ''[[Kūčios]]'' ("Holy Meal") is the most important event of the year and family reunion. Dead relatives are remembered with an empty plate set at the table.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magical Christmas Eve in Lithuania - Kūčios |url=https://www.itinari.com/magical-christmas-eve-in-lithuania-kucios-5ike |first=Monika |last=Grinevičiūtė|date=December 2018 |access-date=22 December 2018 |quote=One more important thing - it is believed that during the Christmas Eve all family members are coming together to have dinner. It means the deceased relatives as well, so for that reason on the table one more, additional plate, is always placed.}}</ref> The feast starts after the rise of the evening star.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuanian customs and traditions |url=http://thelithuanians.com/bookanthology/christmas.html |website=thelithuanians.com |access-date=22 December 2018 |quote=The ritual supper is not eaten until the evening star appears in the sky. Until then, the bathhouse is heated, people bathe and dress up in festive clothes. The floor was strewn with juniper by the mistress and the master placed handfuls of hay on the table, covered it with a white linen tablecloth. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214034851/http://thelithuanians.com/bookanthology/christmas.html |archive-date=14 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2018}} No products made from meat, milk and alcohol are allowed during the Kūčios.<ref>{{cite web |title=2/10/2011 Lithuanian traditions: Christmas |url=http://www.lithaz.org/arts/xmas.html |website=lithaz.org |access-date=22 December 2018 |quote=The meal served on Christmas Eve did not include meat, milk products or eggs.}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2018}} In all, 12 dishes are served, all of them rustic, made from grains, fish, dried fruit or mushrooms including ''[[kūčiukai]]''. Small biscuits soaked in [[poppy milk|poppy seed milk]] are served.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} After the dinner is over the table is left uncleared overnight for the feast of ''[[wikt:vėlė|vėlės]]'' (spirits or soul).<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuanian customs and traditions |url=http://thelithuanians.com/bookanthology/christmas.html |website=thelithuanians.com |access-date=22 December 2018 |quote=Most often the "Kūčia" table was not cleared away, for it was believed that when the family is asleep the souls of the dead come in to eat. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214034851/http://thelithuanians.com/bookanthology/christmas.html |archive-date=14 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2018}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vaicekauskas |first1=Arūnas |title=Ancient Lithuanian Calendar Festivals |url=https://eltalpykla.vdu.lt/bitstream/id/3713/9786094670176_2016.pdf |publisher=Vytautas Magnus University |access-date=22 December 2018 |page=31 |year=2014 |quote=The cult of the dead is well noticed in the custom when, after Christmas Eve supper the table is not cleared but left overnight. It was believed that the souls of the dead would come and serve themselves at night. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722055318/https://eltalpykla.vdu.lt/bitstream/id/3713/9786094670176_2016.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>