Kūčios is a unique visit to a Lithuanian family on the most mysterious evening of the year. Hay under the white tablecloth. 12 dishes (but there are hundreds of recipes and every household's herring is slightly different). Fortune-telling, predicting the future, animals speaking in human language after midnight when no one can hear. Food left on the table for spirits.

This year, Madison Vilnius Sister Cities will commemorate Lithuanian Christmas Eve traditions by breaking the wafer together, with a potluck Christmas Eve dinner and baking kūčiukai. Kūčiukai are called by various names: kleckai, skrebučiai, sližikai, šližikai. It all depends on which region your grandparents and great-grandparents came from. But whatever you call them, you can't ruin them. We will bake kūčiukai together. We'll meet at the Aubergine space (near the East side Willy Street Coop store), use the large kitchen space and appliances, I'll bring plenty of yeast dough and we'll bake kūčiukai together. Bring an apron, good spirits, and a plate of herring (or another favorite meatless dish).