Christmas customs in the Baltic nations are a mix of old and new, combining pagan, Christian and secular traditions. Here we outline some of the main features of this exciting time of year in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Latvia
People here believe that Santa brings presents on each of the 12 days of Christmas, starting on Christmas Eve. Usually the presents are put under the family Christmas tree. And did you know that Latvia claims to be the home of the first Christmas tree?

The first documented use of a fir tree being celebrated during the festive period reportedly was in 1510, in the town square of Riga, the capital of Latvia. You can find out more about the Riga Tree from this great website: www.firstchristmastree.com. The traditional Latvian Christmas Day meal is cooked brown peas with bacon sauce, small pies, cabbage and sausage.

Lithuania
Lithuanian Christmas traditions are a combination of Christian and pagan and are similar to those of Poland, as well as the other Baltics. In pagan Lithuania Christmas celebrations as we know them today were the celebration of the winter solstice.

Later, Roman Catholics, the predominant religious population in Lithuania, gave new meaning to old customs and introduced new ways to celebrate the religious holiday. For example, practice of placing hay underneath the tablecloth on Christmas Eve predates the introduction of Christianity to Lithuania but has obvious parallels with hay in the manger where Jesus was born. As in Poland, the Christmas Eve feast in Lithuania traditionally consists of 12 meatless dishes, though fish is permitted and herring is often served. The breaking of religious wafers precedes the meal.

Estonia
Christmas officially starts in Estonia with Advent - most Estonian homes have an Advent wreath and calendar. It’s a period that not only marks the birth of Jesus Christ but also signifies the mid-winter holidays. Traditional Christmas food includes: pork and Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) with potatoes, blood pudding and meat jelly.

Fruit, different kinds of sweets and cakes, as well as homemade gingersnap biscuits are also an important part of the festivities. Gingersnaps are made indifferent shapes - gingerbread men and women, little stars and moons, birds, cats, dogs and bears. Again, the Christmas tree is a key part of the festivities and by Christmas Eve you’ll see a well-decorated one in most households, filling the air with the scent of candles and pine.