KLAIPĖDOS KRAŠTO (1923–1939) BENDRUOMENINIAI JAUNIMO PAPROČIAI. LYGINAMOJI PERSPEKTYVA

In the article, based on ethnographic field research conducted between 1988 and 1996, using the historical comparative method, I aim to compare how the community customs of rural youth in the Klaipėda region differed from those in neighbouring areas of Lithuania, and how they changed when the Klaipėda region was a part of Lithuania from 1923 to 1939. In order to achieve this goal, I set the task of examining the community customs of young people (confirmation and birthdays, name days, parties, beekeeping and bee parties, wedding parties, gegužinė [outdoor parties] and entertainment in the garden, keeping watch over linen at night, and gatherings by the swing). The findings obtained show that during the research period, the community life of the youth of the Klaipėda region intensified, and some customs that existed in the Republic of Lithuania were adopted.