Paper short abstract:

The report will focus on the comparison of the rituals in commemoration of the death performed in the cemetery and the previous home of the dead, comparing the current situation in Vilnius city and the beliefs recorded in various parts of Lithuania, Belarus and Poland in the previous times.

Paper long abstract:

According to Philippe Ariés, a cemetery is a place where people come to concentrate, think about the dead and renew their life in memories. Passing the cemeteries in Vilnius city one can often notice bright lights. They increase in number during various festivals, and before All Soul's Day the whole sea of lights can be visible here. The generalisation of the old Lithuanian sources made by Angelė Vyšniauskaitė prove that in some parts of Lithuania and Europe in the 19th century there existed a tradition to prepare dishes in the cemetery or at home and, thus, invite dead relatives.

On the basis of the data of the latest (2012-2016) research on the festivals in commemoration of the dead in Vilnius city, cemeteries are visited on, or several weekends before All Saintsʼ Day and during other days of various confessions in commemoration of the dead. Sometimes people eat dishes at the grave or leave some food and drinks. Further on, the dead are commemorated at home as well putting a candle on the window-sill in order the souls could find the way home. Also, at dinner some people put a plate for the dead on the table or leave some food on it.

The report will aim at the analysis of the differences in this ritual dinner in time perspectives as well as their ethnic and confessional peculiarities comparing the data in Vilnius city and the beliefs recorded in various parts of Lithuania, Belarus and Poland in the previous times.