DRAUGAS NEWS Lithuanian World Wide News in English

BY ALGIS GINTAUTAS Today the devotion to the Divine Mercy is widespread among Catholics across the globe, thanks to a humble, frail nun who became God’s chosen messenger to spread His word through a diary she wrote and an image she instructed to be painted in Vilnius. DURING HIS LONG …

Lithuanian with Dana Siliūnas POPPY SEED POUNDCAKE Aguoninis pyragas ½ lb. (2 sticks) butter 1 cup poppy seeds 1 cup sour cream ½ cup confectioners’ sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 2 cups flour 4 eggs, separated Whip butter until white and fluffy. Add poppy seeds and …

BY ANGELĖ VYŠNIAUSKAITĖ FROM GOOD FRIDAY UNTIL THE RESURRECTION devotions, the Church’s bells during Masses are silent, replaced at the Consecration by the dry, solemn rattle of the wooden clappers. But on Easter morning, in joyous celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, all the bells inside the church and those in its …

BY ALGIRDAS BUDRECKIS DURING THE AMERICAN Revolution, the Continental Congress built and commissioned a number of men-of-war. Several colonies also maintained their own fleets to engage the British warships and convoys. However, it was not the fledgling American Navy which bore the brunt of seafighting. The burden rested on the …

Let’s Cook Lithuanian with Dana Siliūnas Many readers are familiar with some of the better-known Lithuanian delicacies, such as kugelis, cepelinai, and koldūnai. In Lithuania these dishes are also known by other names (bulvių plokštainis, didžkukuliai, and virtiniai.) But there are other favorite dishes, perhaps less known or popular, but …

Let’s Cook Lithuanian with Dana Siliūnas The following recipes could be used for the traditional Lithuanian Christmas-eve meal, which is eaten after sundown on Christmas Eve. The Lithuanian word for Christmas Eve is Kūčios (pronounced Koo-chios). At the end of the Kūčios meal, the family goes off to midnight mass …

Christmas EVE and CHRISTMAS [a.k.a. Kucios ir Kaledos] Ancient historical sources confirm the main moments of the winter holiday, the return of the sun, which are found in the 20 century Lithuanian beliefs and traditions. Supper on Christmas Eve “ Kucios”, the oldest Lithuanian feast, celebrated according to the sun’s calendar. …

Let’s cook Lithuanian PLUM CAKE Slyvų pyragas 1 stick ( ½ cup), plus 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature ½ cup sugar 1 large egg 2 Tbsps. sour cream or yogurt (not non-fat) 2 tsps. vanilla 1 ¼ cups cake flour ½ tsp. each: baking powder, baking soda, salt 16 …

  The Vilnius University, which celebrates its 425th anniversary this year, is the oldest establishment of higher education in Lithuania. Established in 1579, for a long time it became the easternmost European university spreading the light of learning not only to ethnic Lithuania, the multinational Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but …

BROCCOLI SALAD Brakoliu mišrainė 1 medium head broccoli 1 cup sunflower seeds 1 cup raisins 1 red onion, chopped ½ cup apple cider vinegar ½ cup sugar 2 Tbsps. mayonnaise Trim broccoli and remove tough ends; wash thoroughly. Chop into ½ – inch pieces and place in large bowl. Add …