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Concert of traditional Lithuanian songs – „Nalŝia” group from Vilnus (Lithuania)

Concert of traditional Lithuanian songs – „Nalŝia” group from Vilnus (Lithuania)
Start date 2013-10-04
Start time 19:00
Kategoria Koncert

Nalšia (Lithuania)

As befits a band whose name is borrowed from a region in what is now Eastern Lithuania, the main aim of Nalšia (est. 1984) is to cultivate and promote folklore of Eastern Aukštaitija region. The group consists of singers, dancers, and instrumentalists, all of whom pay artistic homage to the past. The songs they perform have been passed down by older relatives, and the instrumental music that is routinely played by Nalšia is by definition created with recourse to traditional instruments. The music has been either passed on by village musicians or it has been re-constructed on the basis of archival recordings by self-taught members of Nalšia.

The repertoire of the group includes songs dedicated to various social occasions: a dance, the Christmas season, Shrovetide, Summer Solstice, baptism day, wedding etc. Programmatically, Nalšia performs and promotes a wide range of Lithuanian traditional music: from old rituals, authentic shepherd instruments, songs and dances dating back to the 16th century, to international (as well as classical) instruments, music and dances that became increasingly more common in the villages of Lithuania by the beginning of the 20th century. The group does not avoid formal and thematic experimentation. Nor does it shy away from stylistic syncretism or playfulness. For instance, a merry and frolic atmosphere prevails in Nalšia’s Shrovetide programme; specific costumes and carefully selected masks are used for this programme.

The group has performed all over Europe. In 2012 Nalšia won the title of the best folk group in Lithuania and the “Golden Bird” award.

Lithuanian customs and traditions

Shrove Tuesday takes place seven weeks before Easter; it is called UŽGAVĖNĖS.
Shrove Tuesday is not a holiday but is singled out as the day which puts an end to meat-eating and merrymaking – it is the last Tuesday before Lent.
Shrove Tuesday is a folk celebration not connected with any church rite and only its timing is defined by the church calendar as it depends on the date of Easter. During this celebration attention is concentrated on chasing away winter with all its evils. Attention is paid to the weather in order to be able to foretell the weather for spring and the rest of the year. It was most important to determine the right time for spring planting, especially for growing flax.
The most common Shrove Tuesday tradition was to ride across the fields to visit neighbours and relatives, demanding water for good grain harvest. Another important tradition was concerned with bees. Children imitated bees by sitting in tubs and making buzzing noises while their family poured water on them. It was believed that this ensured bees would collect copious amounts of honey.
There is also a traditional Shrove Tuesday event with masqueraders strolling about, which was supposed to awaken spring and plants. Old writings and chronicles indicate that masqueraders wore terrifying masks made from tree barks, sheep skins or animal skulls, all showing brutal hatred. The masks were of strange colors, their beards, eyebrows and hair made of dog, horse and even bear fur, mostly brown, black or white. The masks represented elders, beggars, people of different nationalities, birds and animals. They also dressed up as devils, angels and symbols of death.
Christmas and New Year’s Day
At the beginning of 19th century on Christmas day groups of men, singing ancient hymns and beating wooden folk instruments, dragged about a yule log (also known as “blukas”) from house to house, while greeting the owners and wishing them a Happy New Year. These men were graciously treated to Christmas goodies. Afterwards, the yule log was dragged out of the village and set on fire. 
Christmas merry-making usually began on the second day of Christmas or on the eve of the first day of Christmas and continued until Epiphany, the feast of the Three Kings. Youth groups - called “alms collectors”, “darlings”, “gypsies” or by other names - walked through villages under the pretext of wishing fellow villagers good harvest while greeting all homeowners. They received gifts for their greetings. Each group's leader had the duty to request permission to enter homes only when invited. In the region of Tauragë, a typical youth group was made of twelve young men, dressed in red trousers, wearing jackets back-to-front, with hats, bells and whips in hands. Before entering houses they would chase evil spirits in the villages and make an uproar. When an invitation was given to enter the house, they sang whole-heartedly and wished everyone inside good harvest.
In the region of Vilnius, on the first day of Christmas, children walked near windows bleating like lambs. The owner of the house under whose windows they bleated knew immediately that the coming year would be very lucky and lavished generous gifts on those children.  
January 1 in the form of New Year’s celebrations arrived in Lithuania from the Christian West, not earlier than in the 19th century. People believed that greetings issued at the beginning of the year have magic power and are therefore fulfilled. Many young people who walked through villages, greeting everyone and wishing them good crops, were entertained, made feel welcome, and received gifts. Most of them were dressed as good and evil spirits, beggars, and animals. The symbol of death "Giltinë" would jump on an oldster - the personification of the old year, and use his scythe try to destroy him. In Samogitija, there was the tradition of detroying the last year’s evils by burning bundles of straw.

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