Since ancient times, the flyover of birds has been celebrated on this day. The day of 40 birds is called because approximately that number of bird species fly from Lithuania to spend the winter in foreign countries and return to their homeland in the spring.
The ancients believed that if it gets cold on this day, the frost will last another 40 days. Housewives were advised to bake 40 buns so that the crops would go well in the summer. In some places, especially in Žemaitia, it is believed that this day should be spent “in one’s nest”, i.e. with one’s family. It is believed that if you go somewhere further away from home on this day, you will have a disagreement with your relatives and neighbors.
