Lithuanians pay respects to ancestors

  • 2000-11-09
  • Darius James Ross
VILNIUS - Lithuanians had a day off work on Nov. 1 to commemorate All Saints' Day. Called "Velines" in Lithuanian, the name of the holiday refers to the souls of those who have departed this earth.

The tradition reaches well back to Lithuania's pagan past. Banquets would be held near a loved one's grave as a tribute to the deceased.

Lithuanians officially accepted Roman Catholicism in the 14th century and the holiday became a Christian one. Yet old beliefs persisted among the country folk who borrowed from both traditions. People prayed for all the dead, not only for loved ones and relatives, as the souls of the deceased were capable of great vengeance if they were forgotten. Country folk believed that all souls were released from purgatory on All Souls' night (the night after All Saints' Day) and that those not prayed for would be very angry and become dangerous.

On All Souls' eve people in Lithuania still visit the graves of their ancestors and light candles on them. This tradition is unique to Poland and Lithuania. Cemeteries take on a resplendent glow that can be seen from a distance.

Rasu Kapines in Vilnius is one of the most important cemeteries in Lithuania as many tombstones of important national historical figures are located there.

The tombstone of Dr. Jonas Basanavicius (1851-1927) was decorated with several dozen candles placed there by anonymous Vilnius residents of all ages.

Basanavicius was one of the most important leaders of the Lithuanian national renaissance that took place around the turn of the century following many centuries of Polonization and Russification. One elderly woman stood by his grave softly signing hymns to his soul.

Another memorial stone, shaped like a fetus, commemorates stillborn children and is simply marked "For Those Unborn." One man stood by it with his young son, quietly explained its significance to him and lit a candle.

Both then spent a few moments in silent prayer before moving on. Forty-four-year-old Algimantas Saulenas was placing candles on the graves of unknown soldiers. "This day is important to me in my relationship to those on the other side [of life]. I value these young men who made the ultimate sacrifice for Lithuania. I hope that the candles I light provide them with spiritual warmth. The candle is my bond with them," he said.

Saulenas had spent the day visiting five other cemeteries. "I come from a huge family and my forefathers' graves are scattered around Vilnius. I have to visit them all. It's important to me. I believe that they [their souls] can see me now but how they exactly live is a great mystery," he said.

Nigel James Durant of Cheltenham in Great Britain was also visiting graveyards in Vilnius. "This is different from England as we don't have this tradition. It is a nice spectacle and I think it's wonderful for people to come out and pay their respects to the dead."