Lithuanian Day of the Dead?! Vėlinės in Lithuania 

In fact, Vėlinės, before christianity, was called - ILGĖS (Long, longings, length day). Word ILGĖTIS - to miss somebody. The feast was celebrated in memory of the dead, as well as thanksgiving for the harvest. ILGĖS were celebrated in cemeteries and houses in late October-early November, after harvest. The god of the field, Žemėpatis ( the Land), was asked for grace, and was also offered to the god of thunder - Perkūnas. Rites were used to bake bread for the elders, sung and played. They shared food with the dead, filled drinks or buried leftovers, or left them on the table. In some regions, the habit of ILGĖS was to put food and drink on the graves. There is some communities that holds traditions and gathering near the fire for long. Wax candles are poured during this period. Many Lithuanian ancient customs were about thanksgiving to the souls of the dead. Also eve before christmas - same, thanksgiving for last harvest and hoping for a generous harvest next year (aannnd about sun which coming back to earth) :) Lithuanian people from the oldest times culture of various grains, it was main food. And in symbolic way, grain is transmutation (birth and death/from dead, to growing / from generation to generation and so on.. ) So that's many celebrations was about connecting with ancestors and beloved ones that went to other world. It's sad that most Lithuanians do not know these customs, or have forgotten them. Although there are many people who continue old traditions and pass them on to generations as deep Lithuanian roots.

To me vėlinės has always been a family gathering sort of holiday and the dead members of the family are simply included in that. The whole family comes together (or as many people as possible) and we drive around all the different cemeteries in various towns and villages, cleaning up the graves and lighting candles. You often meet other members of the family visiting the same graves, there's lots of catching up, lots of stories shared about the ones who have passed away. It's not sad, more like bittersweet. A lot of the stuff I know about my great-grandparents or other members of the family who I've never even met, comes from standing by their graves on vėlinės and listening to older relatives recounting their memories of them.

What surprised me about Vėlinės, is that there are different traditions among different families. My parents always had the "efficient" approach, maybe cause they were not practicing catholics. My family-in-law was 180 degrees different. They would go to the cemetery in big groups (it's a big family), visit multiple graves while walking and catching up with one another. They would meet some relatives along the way and would start the loop again, together this time. That would always happen in the evening dark, since it's the most beautiful time to experience Vėlinės and would take 2-3 hours. Strangely, I really enjoyed that time. You just need to have proper clothing. Everything would end at someones home with all the relatives gathering for dinner.

In many cultures end of October - beginning of November is when worlds of the dead and the living are closest to one another, and where kinda passing, especially for a soul, from one to another is the easiest. In countries where Halloween or similar traditions exsist this is a holiday mostly meant to keep the dead away, confuse them, etc. as souls of the dead, if they come back to earth to the living are seemed only as being evil. In Lithuania, though catholic, Vėlinės has a very strong roots in our paganism tradition. And those pagan traditions are all about keeping in touch with the dead, as dead, especially those from your own family are not evil, but quite the opposite - they are seemed as family guardian souls, well wishers and such. So traditionally when the Vėlinės comes, it's a time to commemorate the dead, visit them, show them respect, talk to them, and on the way to cemetaries possibly visit or meet up with the extended family and such. For many youths this holiday does indeed seem too solemn and boring, especially compared to all the masks and twinkles of Halloween, back in the day I also kinda felt that Vėlinės is meh, and wished we'd have Halloween instead. but kinda from own experience, with time, especially once you have graves of some one really close to you to visit, usually it transitions from boring/solemn to something of an internal annual journey. And at night once all the graves are lit up by candles!!! that is a sight to behold. On topic of dead crossing over to the living world. In Lithuania there is a very strong tradition of Christmas Eve celebration. This tradition is also changing, and kinda starting to lose some of its core elements, but not so long ago, say generation of my grandparents had a tradition of always serving an empty plate at the Christmas Eve table for an "extra", and that after Christmas Eve super this table would be left with all the food still served overnight without cleaning it, so that souls of ancestors, etc. could come and feast at this table over night, before the turn in night-day balance, so that they were pleased and contetnt with the family for the long upcoming period of day getting longer and life prevailing upon night/death

I don't know why but this video made me very emotional. RIP to all the lost loved one's

When I was little my parents always told me to leave some food on the table on the Vėlinės eve so that the spirits (“vėlės”) of our deceased loved ones would have something to eat when they come back to visit us from the „realm of the dead“ on this special night. I always tried to stay up all night on Vėlinės hoping to see an actual spirit.. but one night I found out that it was my dad who was eating all the food and not the spirits. Oh well at least the Santa Claus is real :)

When my Lithuanian friends came to Mexico and witnessed the Day of the Dead in Mexico, they were shocked at the similarities and differences between both celebrations. Ultimately, Mexicans and Lithuanians continue to honor and remember our ancestors. That is beautiful.

Hi Laura. Thanks for introducing Vėlinės. I find it quite similar to how Filipinos observe All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Days prior, people would go to the cemeteries to clean and repaint the tombs just in time for November 1 & 2. It is also on these days that family members would gather and reunite to remember the dead. Candles are lit, flowers are offered and prayers are said, often a litany for the dead (now a dying tradition since only a few can say the prayer by heart). Food is also placed on the tomb or the altar, and family members often stay quite longer into the night, partaking of the potluck dinner. And for those who cannot go to the cemetery, candles are lit outside of the homes.

Šarūnai!! He's been my language teacher for years now. O dabar youtuberio žvaigždė!

The reason candles are lit comes from a very old folklore tradition in Lithuania which is that the dead souls (vėlės) could find their way back to their resting place. This is why when you go to a cemetery you also light up a candle at those graves that are clearly andandonded or forgotten. I think you'll notice that all these traditions come from very old superstitions which make this and other holidays very rich.. though i get a feeling that most Lithuanians nowadays get embarrassed by these traditions.

dude really represented our country great, he explained it well, most foreigners think velines is either some weird pagan celebration of dead kinda a bit like in mexico, or they think its like haloween fun, masks and candies, well its actually neither, its more about respecting, remembering our dead relatives and friends, we clean graves, then light candles and say a prayer. It comes from old pagan days, and christianity mixed into this so now we pray to "christian gods", church is also important, while in past it was more about nature, our ancestors light bonefires near graves and "connected to dead" spiritually, actually seen on news this tradition is coming back in some parts of lithuania in recent years. It actually takes few days or even more to reach all cemeteries of bigger families, since they are scattered around lithuania 100-300km radius sometimes. Me with my family this year went to 9 cemeteries, to our grandparents, greatgrandparents, friends graves.

Day of the Dead and Samhain are very similar. I kind of celebrate them together with my own altar. I'm not surprised that in Lithuania they celebrate Velines. It's all old school and all very close in nature, with different names. Nice interview, Laura ♥

My family during Vėlines wisit the graves and we think about those that passed on an we bring a treat (usually cookies) and leave a peace (sharing with the dead). It's a pagan tradition for my family. We do the same during some celebrations (say wedding/Christmas we leave a small treat on main table) so that our ancestors can share the day with us.

I remember when I was kid, my parents and I were going to famous/ancient cemeteries (like Rasų kapinės) to visit the graves of famous writers because we didn't have any family members graves in Vilnius. However with the years more and more relatives (and closest family members!) have passed away, and now I take several days (/weekends) to visit all the cemeteries!..

Hope you’re enjoying Lithuania! We moved here from Philly 6 months ago. If you’re ever in Vilnius, my husband and I would love to show around or grab a drink!

I really recommend to go to Cementary of famous Lithuanian people. Like Antakalnio kapines or Rasu kapines and light a 🕯️and also see candles in the dark :)

man has to have 3 wifes in his life: russian - because shes hot, then jewish - your children will be smart and last lithuanian - because they look after your grave. so as you can see from this 'slightly' politically incorrect joke, lithuanians do have obsession caring about the graveyards and it shows especially on vėlinės. its not a bad thing, its just the way it is and i like it.

Not a coincidence at all. In the whole Northern Europe this time is Vėlinės days.

Italy celebrates with lights in the graveyards too. See youtuber Nicki Positano and her Positano Diaries for the latest there.

You need to go to cemetery at that day. Cemeteries at that time luke like a palace. That day reminde you abut your ties with spiritual world.Its reminde you about your path you need go trough. And when you come to cemetery in that day its open you diffferent side of it. You just feel peace and good feelings. Its like swich on light inside you...

Super

Want a beautiful tradition, it reminds me of the Mexican one

Thanks so much for this video! I have many Lithuanian ancestors, but know very little about them or their culture. I've been trying to learn more to find a connection to them. I hope to celebrate Velines next year to honor them ❤️

Ačiū Šarūnui, kad taip gražiai papasakojo apie VĖLINES.

Hello Laura :) very emotional visit of you during day of the dead in Kaunas , very interesting video , i really liked it :) it's so great to see your videos which are filmed in my hometown Kaunas , it would be so great to see you again in Kaunas during December while everybody will be preparing for long waited winter holidays , before Christmas in Kaunas town hall you will be able to see how Christmas tree will be lighting up , of course i believe you will be able to taste for the first time red hot wine , explore beautiful Christmas decorations and shopping markets :) anyway thank you so much for a nice video about this famous Lithuanian tradition , i'll see you in your new videos , take care , bye :)

very friggin cool

I ❤️ this season, autumn 🍁 mixed with cemeteries lit up. I live in eyesight 👀 of a cemetery 🪦 that is very popular in Vilnius. I get to watch people at night come visit in droves and light candles.💀 🪦 🕯

Next time when will be in Kaunas at Velines ,you just try to go to zymunu kapines . I think you get there very stron positive experience...

Right around the 6:30 mark in the video, a gust of wind distorted the audio when he said "...We're a [inaudible] people". I wonder if you could fill in the missing word. Another interesting video, by the way!

So beautiful!

If nobody mentioned that before.. word "Vėlinės" comes from "vėlė" ("dvasia") - gost of the dead (i guess that´s the only way ghosts are :) )...ups, i should watch it till the end first :)

Lithuainia is a buetiful place ik bc i'm from lithuainia

You can try visit "Baltieji and Juodieji Lakajai" - lakes .

In addition to what others have already said: It's only the second year that LT has Nov 2 as bank holiday, before that only Nov 1 was, just like Poland. Moreover, this year the days neatly blended together to make a 4-day weekend and also the weather was so much better then many years before. So it was a lot different from the usual, many people visited the cemetery on Saturday (or even Friday) and then went off to have a longer break, e.g. at the seaside, countryside, or even took the next 3 days as vacation and flew off to Turkey, Egypt or some other sunny place. This has reduced the traffic on Nov 1 A LOT - usually it's a nightmare and people spend large portion of their day first on the road, then in the traffic jam and eventually in the foggy, drizzly weather. So yeah, it was a lot different this time and the spirits we much higher, I'd say :)

Its not dead. Its peace for dead day. People talk to people that passed. All cementaries are in light all night.

Hi I'm so happy for your Videos,Velines its time and day when you can connect to Dead People this what we believe if you go to Kaunas again,?i have little house there you are Welkom to stay there free of charge my brother will look after you guys Kind Regards Saulius xxx

Great video, Note Kaunas is more pronounced like Kow-ness

I will just leave a few etymologically connected words here: Vėlė - spirit, Vėlinės- celebration of the dead, Velnias - the devil, Vilna- wool, Vilnius- the capital city :) As far as I know, ancient lithuanian pagan shamans would celebrate the dead by playing the devil while wearing clothing made of wool. The river in the capital city was named after this custom. At least this is what I've heard once on a TV programme explaining the origin of Vilnius' name. I thougth that it was interesting that our capital city is "villainous".

1:06 Didn't really understood what you meant about it being celebrated (just like in Mexico) on differing days of the year. Vėlines is always celebrated on 1st and 2nd of November. Obviously some people visit cemeteries days leading to Vėlinės or just after them, depending on their ability. Vėlinės, unlike Easter (Vėlykos), don't change the date. I might misunderstood something though :)

Velines-->>Vele-->>Veliava🇱🇹Flag All Spirits stay with Ours Flag, Does why we take Flag to fight/war becouse they help fight with eggressor. Does why we need take care with Vele(Spirtis)/thems

Like👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

utena?

and time turning how going for u?

Lithuania work visa open ya not

Oh yes, Mexico has beautiful customs and people, except the barbaric cartels: the funkytown gore video has scared me a lot

Can you speak a little bit slower?

People say prayers & remember share stories if families come together near the grave & during this moment they talk about the past.