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Birthdays and Name Days

That Lithuanians celebrated birthdays was recorded as early as in the 16th century. It is believed that name days became more accepted after the establishment of Christianity. Churches were named after saints and held solemn devotions on days set aside to honor particular saints (St. Anthony on June 13th, St. Casimir on March 4th, St. John the Baptist on June 24th, St. Ann on July 26th, etc.). People given those saints' names also celebrated their name days on the same dates. It is quite possible that at first only the name days of persons given popular, more familiar names like Ann, Mary, Joseph, Peter, Paul, John were observed. These calendar feasts were well known to all. Eventually, the rarer Christian (or national) names began to be celebrated as well, for the names could easily be found on almost any calendar while it was more difficult to learn a person's birthday.

Only in the most recent years (most often among the urban population) were birthdays celebrated. Of course, in some countries where Lithuanians live today it is more accepted to celebrate birthdays. We may therefore adapt local custom or observe both birthdays and name days.

It is senseless to decide which occasion is more important: birthday or name day. It can be claimed that a person's birthday is more important than his having this or that name, but celebrating birthdays is not acceptable to everyone. Young persons and children celebrate birthdays with more enthusiasm, while older individuals are more inclined toward name days. Not only women, but also men, are sometimes unwilling to admit the passing number of years and thus find name days more agreeable.

The main purpose of the occasion is to congratulate and honor the celebrant. We will discuss here only the customs more characteristic of Lithuania's inhabitants. Although these customs are linked to name days, they are also appropriate for birthdays.

Frequently, the celebration begins early in the morning when the said individual finds upon arising garlands festooned around his house or apartment door. In the summer the garland is made of leaves (interspersed with flowers) while fir and pine branches are most often used in the winter. It must however be remembered that a wreath should not be hung in the middle of the door for in some nations this signifies a death in that home. It is a symbol of death, not a festive occasion. The Lithuanian custom is to hang the garland around the entire door, attaching it not to the door but to its frame.

If the door cannot be festooned, the chair of the person celebrating the birthday or name day must be decorated (even better, both door and chair). The chair is already decorated when the celebrant comes to the breakfast table.

A very typical Lithuanian birthday or name day custom is to lift the person being honored in a chair. If the family members are able to do so, the celebrant is quickly seated in the decorated chair and lifted up three times. This is done so everything will go well for him next year, so he'll be healthy and happy. This is easily accomplished when the occasion is celebrated by a child. Adults are hoisted aloft at the party when stronger men are present. Otherwise the lifting ritual can be skipped. It is essential to lift a child, otherwise he grows very slowly and is sickly.

After this ritual, the celebrant is congratulated and presented with small gifts. If the party is held at this time, the guest of honor is girded with a patterned sash, placed across his shoulder and tied on the opposite side at the waist. The sash is worn throughout the celebration. After the celebrant is so girded, the guests sing the congratulatory song "Valio!" The melody and words can be found at the beginning of this book, among the forms of congratulation. We recommend that the Slavic "Ilgiausiu metu" song not be used when we have a good Lithuanian substitute. Blowing out candles (or even placing them there) on a birthday cake and making a wish at that time, was unknown.

The person observing a birthday or name day is allowed to celebrate all day. Friends and acquaintances make an effort to extend their best wishes in person, stop at his home or make a telephone call. Greetings by mail are considered too impersonal and formal and acceptable only for those who live far away.