lithuanian folk songs, dances and games

LITHUANIAN FOLK SONGS, DANCES AND

GAMES

Inga Sabutytė and Kotryna RudelytėKlaipėda Gedminai Main School

2012

Lithuanian folk songs Lithuanian folk songs is a part of Lithuanian

folk music culture. Songs represents the majority of Lithuanian folklore alongside instrumental music and dance.

Lithuanian folk songs are characterized by tenderness, lyrical and sometimes sadness.

Songs’ storyline reflect images of nature, animals and birds’ life. It is also sung about the tragic fate of orphans, the hard life of farmers, and gentle feelings of the young. There are a lot of comparisons in the songs: human life is compared with the life of plants, especially trees, birds and beasts asking for help.

Lithuanian folk dances Lithuanian traditional choreographic heritage

consists of dances, round dances and games. Most of them are for entertainment, but there are some interesting ritual roundelays and dances, which are related with the calendar, work and wedding ceremonies. Many of them are common in Lithuania, but some ethnographic regions have its own characteristics.

Many Lithuanian dances consists of two parts: the first one is slower and the second one is faster. The first is characterized by a sophisticated and unique choreography, often associated with the name of the dance, the second has mostly polka or waltz’s steps.

Lithuanian folk games Lithuanian folk games, roundelays and

dances are the part of the Lithuanian folklore. In ancient villages the newborn child was thrown into the world of folklore as the using of traditional songs, fairy tales and games was very common in these days.

Lithuanian folk games

1. Didactic games, developing child's senses.

2. Mobile folk games.

3. Traditional games - popular Lithuanian games, which are linked to the national traditions, customs, rites, calendar holidays and etc.

„Jurgelis meistrelis“

Players go round in a circle, and one of them (Jurgelis) stands in the middle. While walking round players sing:

„Jurgeli, meistreli, mokyk savo vaikus,

Jurgeli, meistreli, mokyk savo vaikus.“

Jurgelis shows some actions and all players in the circle repeat his actions singing the words:

„O jūs, vaikai, taip darykit kaip Jurgelis daro.

O jūs, vaikai, taip darykit kaip Jurgelis daro“.

After that Jurgelis is replaced by another player.

While playing Lithuanian folk games, children develop their personality, physical, intellectual, and social skills.