Lithuanian Words For Halloween: Key Takeaways
- Halloween in Lithuanian is Helovinas or Helovynas.
- Lithuania does not celebrate Halloween traditionally, although young people in the cities do.
- Vėlinės on November 2 is Lithuania’s own day to remember the dead, when families visit graves and light candles.
- Užgavėnės, on Shrove Tuesday in February or early March, is the mask and effigy festival closest to Halloween in spirit.
Most Lithuanians treat October 31 as just another day, though young people in the cities enjoy costumes and parties. The real traditions come at other times: Vėlinės on November 2 and Užgavėnės in late winter. Here are the Lithuanian words for Halloween, plus the culture behind both.
How Do You Say Halloween In Lithuanian?
Halloween in Lithuanian is Helovinas, also spelled Helovynas. Both are loanwords from the English name of the holiday. The table below has the most common Lithuanian words for Halloween, plus a few words for the candles, graves and spirits of Vėlinės, so you can talk about the whole season.
| English | Lithuanian | How It’s Used |
|---|---|---|
| Halloween | Helovinas / Helovynas | The name of the holiday in Lithuania. |
| pumpkin | moliūgas | The classic symbol of Halloween, carved and used to decorate homes in many places in Lithuania. |
| trick or treat | pokštas arba saldainis | What kids say when they go door to door asking for sweets. The custom doesn’t really exist in Lithuania, except at Užgavėnės, when children are given pancakes instead of candy. |
| mask | kaukė | Worn by young people as part of costumes that represent witches, ghosts or other mystical creatures. |
| witch | ragana | An important part of Halloween and of Lithuanian folk stories. |
| ghost | vaiduoklis | Seen in Halloween costumes and decorations, and in Lithuanian stories about spirits of the dead. |
| horror movie | siaubo filmas | Scary movies that get everyone in the Halloween mood. |
| devil | velnias | Another traditional spooky figure, common in costumes and tales. |
| skeleton | skeletas / griaučiai | Used in decorations and costumes to symbolize the eerie side of the holiday. |
| candle | žvakė | Lit on graves during Vėlinės. |
| grave | kapas | Visited by families on Vėlinės. |
| spirit | vėlė | The souls of loved ones remembered on Vėlinės. |
Do Lithuanians Celebrate Halloween?
Not traditionally. You’ll spot pumpkins, costumes and spooky decorations in the cities, mostly for fun among young people. Older generations usually see Halloween as a foreign tradition and prefer to honor the dead the old Lithuanian way.
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What Is Vėlinės?
Before Halloween made its way from the West, Lithuanians celebrated Vėlinės on November 2, a day to remember loved ones who have passed away. Families visit graves, light candles and honor the spirits of the dead. These Lithuanian traditions go back to both pagan and Christian times, and the focus is on respect and reflection, not costumes or candy.
What Is Užgavėnės, Lithuania’s Own “Halloween”?
Instead of Halloween, Lithuanians celebrate Užgavėnės, an old pagan holiday to chase away winter. It falls on Shrove Tuesday, so it takes place in February or early March rather than in autumn.
According to Lithuania’s official tourism site, people burn an effigy of winter called Morė and stage a battle between Lašininis, who stands for winter, and Kanapinis, who stands for spring. Devils, witches and goats fill the streets, and pancakes take the place of candy.
Where Does The Spirit World Show Up In Lithuanian Life?
Legends of witches and fairies run through Lithuanian folklore, and spots like Devil’s Pit and the Hill of Witches feature in many stories about haunted places in Lithuania. Even on Christmas Eve, families leave food out for spirits, keeping a connection to the unseen world alive all year.
What Other Lithuanian Words Help You Talk About The Season?
Now that you know how Lithuanians celebrate (or don’t celebrate) Halloween, here are more useful words for the season and for the holidays on the Lithuanian calendar around it.
| English | Lithuanian |
|---|---|
| holiday | šventė |
| October | spalis |
| autumn | ruduo |
| winter | žiema |
| spring | pavasaris |
| November 1 (All Saints’ Day) | Visų šventųjų diena |
| November 2 (All Souls’ Day) | Vėlinės |
| family | šeima |
| costume | kostiumas |
| pancakes | blynai |
| the winter effigy | Morė |
How Can You Celebrate Halloween In Lithuania?
Lithuanians aren’t that big on Halloween, but you can still enjoy the season. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Look up Halloween events in big cities like Vilnius and Kaunas, where most of the costume parties take place.
- Visit cemeteries during Vėlinės on November 2 to see families lighting candles and honoring their ancestors. It’s a beautiful and quiet way to learn more about Lithuanian culture.
- Try local treats like pancakes and baronkos, small ring-shaped rolls that Lithuanians also call riestainiai.
- Check out mystical places like the Hill of Witches to experience the folklore behind Lithuanian tales of spirits and witches.
- Plan ahead, as November 1 and 2 are both public holidays in Lithuania, so some shops and attractions may be closed.
- Wear warm clothes and waterproof shoes, because autumn in Lithuania can be rainy and chilly.
- Learn a few key words with the Ling app and greet locals in their own language.
How Can You Keep Learning Lithuanian With Ling?
Ling’s Lithuanian course helps you build everyday vocabulary with flashcards, native speaker audio and Dialog for real conversation practice. If you’re just getting started, our guides on how to learn Lithuanian and Lithuanian for beginners show you where to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Halloween In Lithuania
Do Lithuanian People Celebrate Halloween?
Not traditionally. Halloween is mostly celebrated by young people in cities, while older generations stick to old Lithuanian ways of honoring the dead.
What Is The Pagan Holiday In Lithuania?
Užgavėnės is an old pagan holiday on Shrove Tuesday, in February or early March, where people wear masks, burn an effigy called Morė, and celebrate the end of winter.
Is November 1 A Holiday In Lithuania?
Yes. November 1 is All Saints’ Day, a public holiday, and Vėlinės (Day of the Souls) on November 2 is a public holiday too. Families visit graves and light candles for the deceased.
What Is Trick Or Treat In Lithuanian?
Trick or treat in Lithuanian is pokštas arba saldainis, which means “a prank or a candy.” Going door to door for sweets is not really a Lithuanian tradition, though.
How Do You Say Ghost, Witch And Pumpkin In Lithuanian?
Ghost is vaiduoklis, witch is ragana and pumpkin is moliūgas. All three appear in Halloween costumes and decorations, and witches and ghosts also feature in Lithuanian folk stories.
Say Helovinas Like A Local
Now you know how to say Halloween in Lithuanian, and why Vėlinės and Užgavėnės matter more to many Lithuanians than October 31. With flashcards, native speaker audio and Dialog for real conversation practice, Ling makes it fun to keep building your vocabulary. Start learning Lithuanian today and wish your friends a happy Helovinas!
