and accompaniments. Dessert is often a cake made to resemble a birch log, or cookies shaped and decorated as mushrooms. Birthdays (Gimtadieniai) - The family's favorite cake is served. Traditionally in Lithuania the day of the saint after whom one was named was celebrated by the family as well as one's own birth date; for instance, a John would celebrate his name day on St. John's Day (Joninės), June 23. Christmas Eve (Kūčios) - Twelve dishes are presented on a table spread with hay and lit by candles. No animal products, including dairy products or eggs, can be consumed as part of this meal. However, fish is permitted and regularly forms part of the meal. This custom is widespread in Catholic Eastern Europe, but traditions vary to different families. It is supposed that rituals and servicing of the Christmas Eve table reflect the most ancient Lithuanian traditions. Weddings (Vestuvės) - The widest possible variety of courses are served. A special bread is sometimes baked and adorned with flowers and bird-shaped decorations, or a šakotis is decorated. The ideal Lithuanian wedding lasts at least two days, so a great deal of cooking and baking goes on. Funerals (Šermenys) - The bereaved family usually hosts a dinner for all the mourners called at a restaurant or other similar venue. Informal gatherings and cocktail parties - The hosts often serve small open-face sandwiches, similar to those at a Scandinavian smorgasbord, topped with smoked fish, sausage, cucumbers, and so forth. Flavored vodkas, which may have been concocted with fruits and herbs according to the host's or hostess's own family recipe, may be served. Contemporary cuisine and restaurants Currently, Lithuania is affected by modern cuisine trends - fusion, new Nordic, craft beer, craft food. Restaurant culture and the fine dining is most advanced in bigger cities - Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda. Yearly 30 best Lithuanian restaurants being selected by Gero maisto akademija (Good Food Academy). See also Finnish cuisine French cuisine German cuisine Estonian cuisine Latvian cuisine Ukrainian cuisine Polish cuisine References Further reading Simon Bajada. Baltic: New and Old Recipes from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. London: Hardie Grant Books, 2019. Rimvydas Laužikas. Istorinė Lietuvos virtuvė: maistas ir gėrimai Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje. Vilnius: Briedis, 2014. Prie stalo visa Lietuva: mityba ir maisto kultūra nuo seniausių laikų iki iki šių dienų. Kaunas: Terra Publica,2015. Lietuvos kulinarinis paveldas Lithuanian culinary heritage - R.Laužikas blog Liudvika Didžiulienė-Žmona. Lietuvos gaspadinė,