Lithuanian Winter Farewell Festival
Exploring Užgavėnės A Year 5 History Journey Discovering Cultural Traditions
What is Užgavėnės?
A traditional Lithuanian festival Celebrates the end of winter Welcomes the arrival of spring Held before Lent begins One of Lithuania's most important cultural celebrations
The Story of Morė
Traditional Customs and Activities
Wearing scary masks to frighten winter away Dressing up in colorful costumes Singing traditional songs Playing games and performing skits Community parades through villages The ceremonial burning of Morę
Traditional Užgavėnės Foods
{"left":"Blynai (pancakes) - symbolize the sun and warmth\nRound shape represents the cycle of seasons\nPoppy seed pastries for good luck","right":"Sweet treats to celebrate spring's sweetness\nShared meals bring communities together\nRecipes passed down through families"}
Think and Discuss
Why do you think people create festivals to mark the changing seasons? How might wearing masks help people feel brave about facing changes? What festivals do we have in the UK that celebrate seasonal changes? How do festivals help communities stay connected?
Make Your Own Užgavėnės Mask
Use paper plates as your base Add bright colors, feathers, and decorations Make it scary to frighten winter away! Think about what winter looks like to you Be creative with materials and patterns Remember - your mask has special powers!
Festivals Around the World
Many cultures celebrate seasonal changes Chinese New Year welcomes spring Diwali celebrates light over darkness Harvest festivals give thanks for autumn Each festival has special foods and traditions Festivals help preserve cultural heritage
Reflection Time
What did you learn about Užgavėnės today? How is it similar to festivals you know? What makes this Lithuanian festival special? Why do you think festivals are important for communities? How might learning about other cultures help us?
What We've Learned Today
Užgavėnės is Lithuania's winter farewell festival Masks and costumes have special cultural meaning Traditional foods like blynai connect families to heritage Festivals help communities celebrate together Learning about other cultures helps us understand the world We are all part of a diverse, global community