Author(s)
Kristina BLOCKYTĖ-NAUJOKĖ
Abstrac
The article examines the musical traditions of the Christmas season in Lithuania Minor by
analysing their historical origins, structure and social–ritual functions. The study focuses on
written sources from the 17th–20th centuries, ethnographic field material, song collections
and contemporary community practices. Using comparative historical and ethnomusicological
methods, the research reconstructs the role of singing in both domestic and communal
settings, highlighting its connection to Lutheran piety, intergenerational continuity and festive
identity-building. The study reveals that Christmas musical practices in Lithuania Minor
served as a central element of communal life, mediating sacrality, social cohesion and cultural
belonging. The concluding section discusses the continuity of these traditions and their
potential applications in present-day cultural and educational contexts.
Keywords: Lithuania Minor, Christmas traditions, singing, ritual music, ethnographic heritage