Learning the art of making Lithuanian Christmas ornaments

Participants make traditional straw Christmas ornaments during an event at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski Road, in Chicago on Nov. 20, 2021. Lithuanian Christmas tree ornaments have been made from natural wheat or rye straw for centuries. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Pieces of wheat await the makers. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Don Astras teaches the straw applique. Astras’ mother, Ursula Astras, taught him how to make the ornaments. She was a well-known American artist who developed a technique to make the straw ornaments which earned her the nickname “Lady of Wheat.” Lithuanian Christmas tree ornaments have been made from natural wheat or rye straw for centuries. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Caitlin MacKnight from Wadsworth, Ill., makes finishing cuts finishing to her ornament. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Teegan Ness, a teacher at St. Ignatius College Prep, puts finishing touches on her ornament while Kelsey Philips watches. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Teegan Ness, a teacher at St. Ignatius College Prep, puts finishing touches on her ornament. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Don Astras assists Tessa Ward, a parishioner at Holy Spirit Parish in Naperville, in the assembly of an ornament. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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