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First Ploughing

The first spring ploughing was never begun before the first thunderstorm. Everyone tried to wake up as early as they could on the first day of ploughing so that their neighbors didn't have a chance to "plough under" the good luck of their harvests. Farmers smoked their ploughshares and ploughing animals with willow, ash, juniper, nettle or other plants. Before starting, they knelt down to kiss the ground and to cross themselves. Bread was ploughed into the first furrow as a sacrifice to the land. After ploughing, the remaining bread was divided among the family members or given away to beggars. Women sprinkled water on the returning ploughmen to ensure that there would be enough rain for the seeds to sprout.


next previous contents
Next: Easter Previous: Stork Day (March 25th)

"LITHUANIAN ROOTS", Edited by Rytis Ambrazevicius

Copyright ©, 1996 Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre.