Leisure Time
Lithuanians spend their leisure very differently: some can’t wait for the end of the working day to dive into extreme activities; others prefer quiet evenings at home with their families or neighbours.
In autumns and winters, people flow to theatre and concert halls. Art galleries and museums do not complain about the lack of visitors, either. Warm season – spring and summer – brings much more colours to people’s life, as they can spend more time outdoors. The list of possible activities is endless, from vibrant nightlife in bigger towns or calmer evenings in the province to weekends at a lake or family and friend gatherings.
In spring, as soon as the weather gets warmer, those who have a garden at the house or outside town spend almost all of their leisure time there, hoeing, plating and taking care of flowers and vegetables, mowing, and so on. Having a patch of land, even the smallest one, is very important for us, Lithuanians, as we are very much attached to our homes and homeland.
For us, summers are unimaginable without spending some time by lakes or rivers with our families and friends: their clean water is an escape from summer heat. If you prefer more width and depth, more bustle and drive, more parties and more acquaintances, you should come to the Baltic seaside, which buzzes with holidaymakers and offers a wide choice of entertainment in summer. The sky is pierced by power kites and hot air balloons here and there, and the streets clatter with children and adolescents who seem to be glued to bikes and skateboards for the whole summer long. For calmer holidays, come to the seaside on the Curonian Spit, a divinely beautifully long and narrow peninsula washed by the Baltic Sea on one side and the Curonian Lagoon on the other.
In autumns, we go mushroom-picking at least once, and even compete ardently with one another for the title of the best mushroom-picker of the season! Lithuanians know which mushrooms are good and edible and which may not be even touched. We also know many delicious mushroom recipes, starting with buns and cakes and finishing with soups and meat courses. Mushroom dishes are a must on every table at Christmas Eve and Christmas.
In winter, we enjoy all pleasures of snow – sledding down slopes and hills, skating on ice-frozen lakes, skiing in picturesque scenery. Devoted anglers do not abandon their hobby even in winters. Dressed in thick clothes, they spend long hours on ice, looking into the ice-hole and waiting patiently for the catch.
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