New Year’s Day in Lithuania
In Lithuania, New Year’s Day is a public holiday set by the Labour Code for 1 January. The celebration has changed over time, and research on Vilnius families describes a mix of shared customs and different ways of marking the night and the first day of the year.[1][2]
A statutory day of rest
Article 123 of Lithuania’s Labour Code lists 1 January as New Year’s Day and says people generally do not work on public holidays. It also sets out the other public holidays, placing New Year’s Day within the country’s statutory calendar.[1]
A public holiday that falls on a regular rest day is not moved to the next working day, the State Labour Inspectorate explains. Employees who work on a public holiday are generally entitled to at least double pay; the Inspectorate also explains exceptions and related rules.[2]
How January 1 became New Year’s Day
The Lithuanian National Culture Centre’s account of the traditional calendar says that the start of the year did not have one fixed date in ancient Lithuanian custom. It describes January 1 as a New Year date adopted in Lithuania from the Christian West no earlier than the 19th century.[3]
A study of New Year celebrations in Vilnius notes that the day has been a public holiday in Lithuania across the interwar republic, the Soviet period and restored independence. The study characterizes the celebration as largely secular and places it within the festive period between Christmas and Epiphany.[4]
Family customs and different ways to celebrate
The Vilnius study found varied family customs, with family traditions often more significant than ethnic differences. Among the people surveyed, Lithuanians and Poles tended to welcome midnight outdoors, while Russian respondents more often celebrated at home; the study also found that people from all three groups tended to spend New Year’s Day at home.[4]
The study’s account of the festive table notes that respondents commonly mentioned sparkling and alcoholic drinks. Polish respondents more often singled out meat, while Lithuanian and Russian respondents gave greater emphasis to vegetable dishes. These are findings from research in Vilnius, not a single menu followed throughout Lithuania.[4]
What to expect on the day
The public-holiday status means that work is generally not scheduled, although the Labour Code and the Inspectorate describe circumstances in which holiday work takes place. The Inspectorate also says the workday before a public holiday is usually shortened by one hour, subject to specified exceptions.[1][2]
Opening arrangements vary by service and venue. For example, Vilnius University has announced that its University Museum and Adam Mickiewicz Museum close on 1 January. The city also publishes special public-transport timetables for holiday periods, so visitors should check the current operator schedule and the opening hours of any place they plan to visit.[5][6]
Frequently asked questions
Is New Year’s Day a public holiday in Lithuania?
Yes. The Labour Code lists 1 January as New Year’s Day and says people generally do not work on public holidays.[1]
Is there a substitute day if January 1 falls on a rest day?
No. The State Labour Inspectorate says a public holiday that coincides with a rest day is not transferred to another working day.[2]
Do all people in Lithuania celebrate in the same way?
No single custom applies to everyone. A study of Vilnius families found differences in how respondents welcomed midnight, alongside varied family traditions and food choices.[4]
Sources and references
Sources used for New Year's Day in Lithuania:
- Lietuvos Respublikos darbo kodeksas- Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas
- Žolinė – savaitgalį: ką svarbu žinoti apie darbo laiką ir apmokėjimą?- Valstybinė darbo inspekcija
- NEW YEAR- Lithuanian National Culture Centre
- Naujieji metai- Lithuanian Institute of History
- Museum opening hours during holidays- Vilnius University Museum
- Kaip švenčių dienomis kursuos viešasis transportas Vilniuje?- Vilnius City Municipality