Kiemas - The Courtyard

Whether a traditional or roadside kaima, or a single establishment (vienkiemis), each sodyba had a courtyard - the kiema: big or small,

it was the open space between buildings. Through the courtyard ran paths to all the farm buildings and the well. Most often, this yard was divided by a fence, separating the “švarusis kiemas” - the space between the dwelling and the granary - from the working yard (ūkinis kiemas), that was the space between the house and the barn. The švarusis kiemas included a flower garden (rūtų darželis) beneath the house‘s south and eastern windows, also seperately fenced. The working yard was securely fenced off, to prevent loose livestock from straying into the clean yard. Some sodybas in Žemaitija had a large pond (kūdra) just outside the kiema, stocked with several kinds of fish, which served well for feeding guests, or for the more important fast days. Sometimes, in older days, this pond was situated just outside the barn and within the working yard; however, sodybas of newer construction completely eliminated this feature and it is no longer found.

Lithuanians in Lithuania Minor (Prussia), escorting a departed to the cemetery, would carry the coffin out of the house, and set it down on the ground, to allow the relatives another chance to mourn their loss.

That was the departed one‘s last farewell to his native land, his homestead, familiar to him since his birth and childhood, where he ran and played and worked all the days of his life. This custom spread and continued for many years, through the 20th century, and the coffin with the departed was brought to rest on the ground beside the house, even though the reason for doing so was forgotten. Most often, it was an opportunity for taking photographs.

The cleanliness and orderliness of the kiema was an indicator of the householder‘s worth, and his family‘s soundness. Each Spring, most often before Easter, they would carefully sweep about the garden, barn, and threshing-floor, setting their pathways in order with chipped stones. Not just before holidays, but also every Saturday evening, the girls would put the gardens in order, and the householder would sweep all paths and sprinkle them with fresh sand. Such attention to one‘s natural surroundings may not be seen today.

© English Translation - Gloria O’Brien 2011

This article was printed in Bridges, 2011