Lithuanians
Total population	4 - 5 million (est.)
Regions with significant populations	Lithuania Elsewhere in Europe: [1] Image File history File links Ciurlionis. ... Image File history File links Vydunas_-_200_litai. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (508x787, 40 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lithuanians Antanas Baranauskas ... World map showing Europe Political map (neighboring countries in Asia and Africa also shown) Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Russia:    76,000 Ireland:    45,000 [2] Germany:    40,000 Latvia:    33,000 Poland:    25,000 Spain:    12,234 [3] Ukraine:    11,000 Belarus:    9,900 Rest of the World: United States:    659,992 [4] Brazil:    800,000 [5] Canada:    36,485 [6] Australia:    12,317 [7]
Language	Lithuanian
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups	Latvians

Lithuanians are the Baltic ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number a little over 3 million [8]. Another million or more make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada and Russia. Their native language is Lithuanian, one of only two surviving members of the Baltic language family. According to the census conducted in 2001, 83.45% of the population of Lithuania proper identified themselves as Lithuanians, 6.74% as Poles, 6.31% as Russians, 1.23% as Belarusians, and 2.27% as members of other ethnic groups. Most Lithuanians belong to the Roman Catholic Church. The Lietuvininkai, the residents of the part of the Lithuanian nation near the former German-Lithuanian border, were mostly Lutherans. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Baltic Sea The Balts or Baltic peoples (Latvian: balti, Lithuanian: baltai), defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family, are descended from a group of Indo-European tribes who settled the area between lower Vistula and upper Dvina and Dneper. ... Look up Diaspora in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Baltic languages are a group of genetically-related languages spoken in northeastern Europe and belonging to the Indo_European language family. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... Lietuvinink (Lithuanian: Lietuvininkas, plural - Lietuvininkai) is a Lithuanian from Lithuania Minor. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ...

History

The territory of the Balts, including modern Lithuania, was once inhabited by several Baltic tribal entities (Sudovians, Curonians, Selonians, Samogitians, Nadruvians and others), as attested by ancient sources and dating from prehistoric times. Over the centuries, and especially under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, some of these tribes consolidated into the Lithuanian nation, mainly as a defense against the marauding Teutonic Order and Muscovite Russians. During the process they converted suddenly to Christianity. Lithuanians were the last surviving non-nomadic European nation to abandon paganism. Sudovian kurhan Sudovians are a subgroup of Baltic people, living at the left coast of river Nemunas, in the region known as Sudovia. ... The Curonians (also called Kursi, Latvian Kurši) are one of the extinct Baltic tribes that later formed the Latvian nation. ... Selonians were a tribe of Baltic peoples that are now extinct. ... Note: this article is about the ethnographic region of Lithuania. ... Nadruvia or Nadruva was the homeland of a pagan Prussian tribe in the first few centuries of the 2nd millenium AD. It was the location of the sacred center of Baltic pagan religion, Romuva, according to Peter of Dusburg, writing in 1326. ... The presumable banner of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the coat of arms, called Пагоня in Belarusian, Vytis in Lithuanian and Pogoń in Polish Another version of the Lithuanian banner The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė, Belarusian: Вялі́кае Кня́ства Літо́ўскае (ВКЛ), Ukrainian: Велике Князівство Литовське (ВКЛ), Polish: Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie) was an... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning a country dweller or civilian) is a blanket term which has come to connote a broad set of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices of natural or polytheistic religions, as opposed to the Abrahamic monotheistic religions. ...

Since the time of Grand Duchy, Lithuanian territory has shrunk - once Lithuanians made up a majority of population not only in what is now Lithuania, but also in northwestern Belarus, in large areas of the territory of modern Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, and in some parts of modern Latvia and Poland. Location of the Kaliningrad Oblast Map of the Kaliningrad Oblast Kaliningrad Oblast Flag Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian: ; German: or Nordostpreussen, Northeast Prussia), informally called Yantarny kray (, meaning Amber region) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) on the Baltic coast, with no land connection to the rest of Russia; it...

However, due to a late medieval view that the Lithuanian language was unprestigious, a preference for the Polish language in the territories of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, as well as a preference for the German language in the territories of the former East Prussia (now Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia), the number of Lithuanian speakers shrank. The subsequent imperial Russian occupation accelerated this process; it pursued a policy of "Russification", which included a ban on public speaking and writing in Lithuanian (see, e.g., "Knygnešiai", the actions against the Catholic church). It was believed by some at the time that the nation as such, along with its language, would become extinct within a few generations. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ... East Prussia (German: Ostpreu en; Polish: Prusy Wschodnie; Russian: Восточная Пруссия — Vostochnaya Prussiya) was a province of Kingdom of Prussia, situated on the territory of former Ducal Prussia. ... Location of the Kaliningrad Oblast Map of the Kaliningrad Oblast Kaliningrad Oblast Flag Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian: ; German: or Nordostpreussen, Northeast Prussia), informally called Yantarny kray (, meaning Amber region) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) on the Baltic coast, with no land connection to the rest of Russia; it... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... KnygneÅ¡iai (singular: knygneÅ¡ys) is a Lithuanian word with no direct translation in any of the word languages (see Untranslatability), litteral translation of the parts of the word (knyga + neÅ¡ti) would mean something like book carrier. Actually, the word meant people who were smuggling printed material across the...

At the end of the 19th century a Lithuanian cultural and linguistic revival occurred. Some of the Polish- and Belarusian-speaking Lithuanians still affiliated themselves with the Lithuanian nation, although others did not. Lithuania declared independence after World War I, which helped its national consolidation. A standard Lithuanian language was approved. However, the eastern parts of Lithuania, including the Vilnius region, were occupied by Poland, while the western areas were controlled by Germany. In 1940, Lithuania was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union, and forced to join it as the Lithuanian SSR. The Germans and their allies attacked the U.S.S.R. in June 1941, and from 1941-1944, Lithuania was occupied by Germany. The Germans retreated in 1944, and that occupier was replaced by another, and Lithuania was under the Soviet yoke. The long-standing communities of Lithuanians in the Kaliningrad Oblast ("Lithuania Minor"), and in the Belarusian SSR, were almost destroyed as a result. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allied Powers: France Italy Russia Serbia United Kingdom United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Luigi Cadorna Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Paul von Hindenburg Reinhard Scheer Franz Josef I Conrad von... Territory of Central Lithuania (green) as compared with other Lithuanian claims on neighbouring countries Vilnius region (Lithuanian Vilniaus kraÅ¡tas) refers to a part of historical Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that was disputed between Poland and Lithuania between Polish-Bolshevik War and World War II. Although a part of Poland in... State motto: Lithuanian: Visų Å¡alių proletarai, vienykitÄ—s! Translation: Workers of the world, unite! Capital Vilnius Official language None. ... Location of the Kaliningrad Oblast Map of the Kaliningrad Oblast Kaliningrad Oblast Flag Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian: ; German: or Nordostpreussen, Northeast Prussia), informally called Yantarny kray (, meaning Amber region) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) on the Baltic coast, with no land connection to the rest of Russia; it... Lithuania Minor (or Prussian Lithuania, Lithuanian Mažoji Lietuva and PrÅ«sų Lietuva respectively) is one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. ... language None. ...

The Lithuanian nation as such remained primarily in Lithuania, in a few villages in Poland and Latvia, and also in the hearts and minds of a diaspora of emigrants. Some indigenous Lithuanians still remain in Belarus and the Kaliningrad Oblast, but their number is small compared to what they used to be. Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, and was recognized by most countries in 1991. It became a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. A low birth rate and increased emigration after joining EU is threatening the nation's future. This article is about the year. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ethnic composition of Lithuania

Main Article: Demographics of Lithuania The earliest evidence of inhabitants in present-day Lithuania dates back to 10,000 BC. Between 3,000–2,000 BC, the cord-ware culture people spread over a vast region of eastern Europe, between the Baltic Sea and the Vistula River in the West and the Moscow-Kursk line...

Among the Baltic states, Lithuania has the most homogeneous population. According to the census conducted in 2001, 83.45% of the population identified themselves as ethnic Lithuanians, 6.74% as Poles, 6.31% as Russians, 1.23% as Belarusians, and 2.27% as members of other ethnic groups. Baltic states and the Baltic Sea The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a term which nowadays refers to three countries in Northern Europe: Estonia Latvia Lithuania Prior to World War II, Finland was sometimes considered, particularly by the Soviet Union, a fourth Baltic state. ...

Poles are concentrated in the Vilnius region, the area controlled by Poland in the interwar period. Especially large Polish communities are located in the Vilnius district municipality (61.3% of the population) and the Šalčininkai district municipality (79.5%). This concentration allows Election Action of Lithuania's Poles, an ethnic minority-based political party, to exert political influence. This party has held 1 or 2 seats in the parliament of Lithuania for the past decade. The party is more active in local politics and controls several municipality councils. Territory of Central Lithuania (green) as compared with other Lithuanian claims on neighbouring countries Vilnius region (Lithuanian Vilniaus kraÅ¡tas) refers to a part of historical Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth that was disputed between Poland and Lithuania between Polish-Bolshevik War and World War II. Although a part of Poland in... Location Ethnographic region AukÅ¡taitija / DzÅ«kija County Vilnius County General information Capital Vilnius Major settlements NemenčinÄ— (pop. ... Location Ethnographic region DzÅ«kija County Vilnius County General information Capital Å alčininkai Major settlements Å alčininkai (pop. ... The Election Action of Lithuanias Poles (Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija) is a political party in Lithuania and represents the Polish minority. ...

Russians, even though they are almost as numerous as Poles, are much more evenly scattered and do not have a strong political party. The most prominent community lives in the Visaginas city municipality (52%). Most of them are scientists who moved from Russia to work at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Lithuania is noted for its success in limiting Russian worker migration during the Soviet occupation (1945-1990). A number of ethnic Russians left Lithuania after the declaration of independence in 1990. Location Ethnographic region Aukštaitija County Utena County General information Capital Visaginas Major settlements Visaginas (pop. ... Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant is a two-unit RBMK-1500 nuclear power station in Visaginas, Lithuania. ...

In the past, the ethnic composition of Lithuania has varied dramatically. The most prominent change was the extermination of the Jewish population during the Holocaust. Before World War II, about 7.5% of the population was Jewish; they were concentrated in cities and towns and had a significant influence on crafts and business. They were called Litvaks and had a strong culture. The population of Vilnius, which was sometimes nicknamed "the Northern Jerusalem", was about 30% Jewish. Almost all its Jews were killed during the Nazi Germany occupation or later emigrated to the United States and Israel. Now there are only about 4,000 Jews living in Lithuania. The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Selection procedure of Hungarian Jews at the Auschwitz camp on 26 May 1944, where the Nazis chose whom to kill immediately and whom to use as slave labor or for medical experimentation. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Jerusalem (Hebrew:  , Yerushaláyim or Yerushalaim; Arabic:  , al-Quds (the Holy); official Arabic in Israel: أورشليم القدس, Urshalim-al-Quds (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names) is the capital and largest city[1] of the State of Israel with a population of 724,000 (as of May 24, 2006[2... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ...

Cultural Subgroups

Apart from the various religious and ethnic groups currently residing in Lithuania, Lithuanians themselves are usually divided into 5 groups: Samogitians, Sudovians, Aukštaitians, Dzūkians and Lietuvininks, the last of which is extinct. City dwellers are usually considered just Lithuanians, especially ones from large cities such as Vilnius or Kaunas. Note: this article is about the ethnographic region of Lithuania. ... Sudovian kurhan Sudovians are a subgroup of Baltic people, living at the left coast of river Nemunas, in the region known as Sudovia. ... AukÅ¡taitija (litterally Highlands) is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. ... DzÅ«kija is one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. ... Lietuvinink (Lithuanian: Lietuvininkas, plural - Lietuvininkai) is a Lithuanian from Lithuania Minor. ... Location Ethnographic region AukÅ¡taitija County Vilnius County Municipality Vilnius city municipality Elderate Number of elderates 20 Coordinates General information Capital of Lithuania Vilnius County Vilnius city municipality Vilnius district municipality Population (rank) 540,318 in 2005 (1st) First mentioned 1323 Granted city rights 1387 Vilnius ( (help· info), see also... Location Ethnographic region AukÅ¡taitija County Kaunas County Municipality Kaunas city municipality Elderate Number of elderates 11 Coordinates General information Capital of Kaunas County Kaunas city municipality Kaunas district municipality Population (rank) 361,274 in 2005 (2nd) First mentioned 1361 Granted city rights 1408 Kaunas ( (help· info), approximate English transcription...

The five groups are delineated according to certain region-specific traditions, dialects, and historical divisions. There are some stereotypes used in jokes about these subgroups, for example, Sudovians are supposedly frugal while Samogitians are stubborn.

Genetics

Lithuanians are among the tallest people in the world. The average height of males is 181.3 cm (almost 6'), and that of females is 167.5 cm (about 5'6"). There was a rapid increase in average height during the 20th century, although the rate of increase has slowed. At the end of the 19th century, the average height of males was 163.5 cm and the average height of females was 153.3 cm. ^[1]

Lithuanian Diaspora

Apart from the traditional communities in Lithuania and its neighboring countries, Lithuanians have emigrated to other continents during the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

• Communities in the United States make up the largest part of this diaspora; up to one million Lithuanians live in the USA. Emigration to America began in the 19th century, with an interruption during the Soviet occupation, when travel and emigration were severely restricted.
• Lithuanian communities in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay) developed before World War II, beginning in the late 19th and early 20th century. Currently, there is no longer a flow of emmigrants to these destinations, since economic conditions in those countries are not better than those in Lithuania (see Lithuanians in Brazil).
• Lithuanian communities in other regions of the former Soviet Union were formed during the Soviet occupation; the numbers of Lithuanians in Siberia and Central Asia increased dramatically when a large portion of Lithuanians were involuntarily deported into these areas. After de-Stalinization, however, most of them returned. Later, some Lithuanians were relocated to work in other areas of the Soviet Union; some of them did not return to Lithuania, after it became independent.
• The Lithuanian communities in Western Europe (UK, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Norway) are very new and began to appear after the restoration of independence to Lithuania in 1990; this emigration intensified after Lithuania became part of the European Union. It should be noted that London and Glasgow have long had large Lithuanian Catholic and Jewish populations. The Republic of Ireland probably has the highest concentration of Lithuanians relative to its total population size in Western Europe; its estimated 45,000 Lithuanians form over 1% of Ireland's total population.
• Lithuanian communities in Australia exist as well; due to its great distance from Europe, however, emigration there was minuscule. There are Lithuanian communities in Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, Hobart and Sydney.

Look up Diaspora in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The first Lithuanian person to set foot on Brazilian soil, according to a record dated in 1886, was a certain colonel Andrius Visteliauskas. ... Siberian Federal District (dark red) and the broadest definition of Siberia (red) Siberia (Russian: , Sibir’; Tatar: Seber) is a vast region of Russia and northern Kazakhstan constituting almost all of Northern Asia. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... De-Stalinization and the Khrushchev era For further details, see Nikita Khrushchev After Stalin had died in March 1953, he was succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and Georgi Malenkov as Premier of the Soviet Union. ... Melbournes Yarra River is popular area for walking, jogging, cycling and relaxing on the banks with a picnic Melbourne (pronounced either or [1]) is the second most populous city in Australia with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ... - - Nickname: City by the Bay Geography Area: 1,240 km² Coordinates: Time Zone UTC +10:00 Population (2003) 200,067 Among Australian cities: Density: persons/km² Political Mayor: Shane Dowling Governing body: City of Greater Geelong Geelong is a port city of 200,067 people (2003 census) located on Corio... Brisbane (pronounced ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ... Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. ... This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ...

Culture and Traditions

The Lithuanian national sport is usually considered to be basketball (krepšinis), which is popular among Lithuanians in Lithuania as well as in the diasporic communities. Basketball came to Lithuania through the Lithuanian-American community in the thirties. Lithuanian basketball teams were bronze medal winners in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Summer Olympics. Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The 1992 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were held in 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ... The 1992 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were held in 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ... The 2000 Summer Olympics or the Millennium Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were the Summer Olympic Games held in 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ...

Joninės (also known as Rasos) is a traditional national holiday, celebrated on the summer solstice. It has pagan origins. Užgavėnės (Shrove Tuesday) takes place on the day before Ash Wednesday, and is meant to urge the retreat of winter. There are also national traditions for Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas. Saint Jonas Festival (aka: Rasos, Midsummer Day, JoninÄ—s, or St. ... Saint Jonas Festival (aka: Rasos, aka: St. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... A typical meal of pancakes In the Christian calendar, Shrove Tuesday is the English name for the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which in turn marks the beginning of Lent. ... In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. ... For other senses of this word, see winter (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Christian festival. ... Christmas or Christmas Day is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. ...

Lithuanian Cuisine

Main Article: Lithuanian cuisine Lithuanian cuisine consists mostly of the traditional Lithuanian dishes . ...

Lithuanian cuisine features the products suited to its cool and moist northern climate: barley, potatoes, rye, beets, greens, and mushrooms are locally grown, and dairy products are one of its specialties. Since it shares its climate and agricultural practices with Eastern Europe, Lithuanian cuisine has much in common with other Eastern European and Jewish cuisines. Nevertheless, it has its own distinguishing features, which were formed by a variety of influences during the country's long and difficult history. Eastern Europe is the eastern region of Europe variably defined. ...

Because of their long common history, Lithuanians and Poles share many dishes and beverages. Thus there are similar Lithuanian and Polish versions of dumplings (pierogi or koldūnai), doughnuts (pączki or spurgos), and crepes (blini or blynai). German traditions also influenced Lithuanian cuisine, introducing pork and potato dishes, such as potato pudding (kugelis) and potato sausages (vėdarai), as well as the baroque tree cake known as Šakotis. The most exotic of all the influences is Eastern (Karaite) cuisine, and the dishes kibinai and čeburekai are popular in Lithuania. The popular "Torte Napoleon" was introduced during Napoleon's passage through Lithuania in the 19th century.^[2] Pierogi frying A plateful of Polish Pierogi Ruskie Pierogi are a kind of dumpling also known as perogi, perogy, piroghi, pirogi, or pyrohy. ... LUKASZ WOLOSYZN ... A blintz, blintze or blin (Russian: блин, блины; Ukrainian: блинці, blyntsi; plural: blintzes, blini, bliny) is a thin pancake. ... Kugelis is a baked potato pudding that is a Lithuanian national food. ... Lithuanian Å¡akotis Å akotis is a popular Lithuanian traditional cake, a version of German Baumkuchen. ... Karaite Judaism is a Jewish denomination characterized by reliance on the Tanakh as the sole scripture, and rejection of the Oral Law (the Mishnah and the Talmuds) as halakha (Legally Binding, i. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ...

Lithuanian šakotis

The Soviet occupation badly damaged Lithuanian cuisine. As elsewhere in the Soviet Union, however, the people were allowed to maintain their own small garden plots; these were, and are, lovingly tended. After the restoration of independence in 1990, traditional cuisine became one of the ways to celebrate Lithuanian identity. Image File history File linksMetadata Sakotis2. ...

Cepelinai, a stuffed potato creation, is the most famous national dish. It is popular among Lithuanians all over the world. Other national foods include dark rye bread, cold beet soup (borscht, or šaltibarščiai), and kugelis (a baked potato pudding). Some of these foods are also common in neighboring countries. Lithuanian cuisine is generally unknown outside Lithuanian communities. Most Lithuanian restaurants outside Lithuania are located in areas with a heavy Lithuanian presence. Cepelinai Cepelinai is a Lithuanian national food. ... Rye bread is bread made with rye flour. ... BORSCHT is an acronym for: Battery Overvoltage protection Ringing Signalling Coding Hybrid Testing The electronic functions collectively known as BORSCHT are used in Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) telephony signaling, line supervision and telephone terminal operation. ... Kugelis is a baked potato pudding that is a Lithuanian national food. ... Lithuanian cuisine consists mostly of the traditional Lithuanian dishes . ...

Perhaps as a result of the shortages during the Soviet era, the Lithuanians concentrated on quality rather than quantity, and they are among the thinnest people in the developed countries of the world.^[3] The emphasis of Lithuanian cuisine is on attractive presentation of freshly prepared foods.

Locally brewed beer, vodka, and kvass are popular drinks in Lithuania. Starka is a part of the Lithuanian heritage, but it is no longer produced in Lithuania. A selection of bottled beers A selection of cask beers Beer is one of the worlds oldest alcoholic beverages, possibly brewed for the first time over 10,000 years ago, according to renowned beer writer Michael Jackson. ... Vodka bottling machine, Shatskaya Vodka Shatsk, Russia Vodka is typically a colorless liquor, usually distilled from fermented grain or potatoes but also from other raw materials (see Production below). ... A kvass vendor on the Khreschatyk Street in Kiev, Ukraine. ... Starka is a traditional lithuanian alcohol drink, popular also in Poland and Russia, similar to aged vodkas and bitters, but not to be confused with them. ...

Lithuanian literature

Main Article: Lithuanian literature Lithuanian literature is literature from the Lithuania. ...

When the ban against printing the Lithuanian language was lifted in 1904, various European literary movements such as symbolism, impressionism, and expressionism each in turn influenced the work of Lithuanian writers. The first period of Lithuanian independence (1918-40) gave them the opportunity to examine themselves and their characters more deeply, as their primary concerns were no longer political. An outstanding figure of the early 20th century was Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, a novelist and dramatist. His many works include Dainavos šalies senų žmonių padavimai (Old Folks Tales of Dainava, 1912) and the historical dramas Šarūnas (1911), Skirgaila (1925), and Mindaugo mirtis (The Death of Mindaugas, 1935). Petras Vaičiūnas was another popular playwright, producing one play each year during the 1920s and '30s. Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas wrote lyric poetry, plays, and novels, including the novel Altorių šešėly (In the Shadows of the Altars, 3 vol., 1933), a remarkably powerful autobiographical novel. 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Impressionism was a 19th century art movement that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists who began publicly exhibiting their art in the 1860s. ... The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893) which inspired 20th century Expressionists Portrait of Eduard Kosmack by Egon Schiele Rehe im Walde by Franz Marc Elbe Bridge I by Rolf Nesch On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923. ... Vincas Mickevičius (October 19, 1882 – July 17, 1954), better known by his pen name Vincas KrÄ—vÄ—-Mickevičius, was a Lithuanian writer, poet, novelist, playwright and philologist. ...

Keturi vėjai movement started with publication of The Prophet of the Four Winds by talented poet Kazys Binkis (1893–1942). It was rebellion against traditional poetry. The theoretical basis of Keturi vėjai initially was futurism which arrived through Russia from the West and later cubism, dadaism, surrealism, unanimism, and German expressionism. The most influensive futurist for lithuanian writers was Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky ^[4]. Keturi vÄ—jai (The Four Winds) - Lithuanian literary movement and literary journal (1924 - 1928). ... Kazys Binkis (1893 - 1942) - Lithuanian poet, journalist, and play writer. ... // Early years Futurism was a 20th century art movement. ... Woman with a guitar by Georges Braque, 1913 Cubist house in Prague Cubism was an early 20th century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music and literature. ... Cover of the first edition of the publication, Dada. ... Surrealism[1] is a movement stating that the liberation of our mind, and subsequently the liberation of the individual self and society, can be achieved by exercising the imaginative faculties of the unconscious mind to the attainment of a dream-like state different from, or ultimately ‘truer’ than, everyday reality. ... Unanimism (French: Unanimisme) is a movement in French literature begun by Jules Romains in the early 1900s. ... The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893) which inspired 20th century Expressionists Portrait of Eduard Kosmack by Egon Schiele Rehe im Walde by Franz Marc Elbe Bridge I by Rolf Nesch On White II by Wassily Kandinsky, 1923. ... Portrait of Vladimir Mayakovsky Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky (Влади́мир Влади́мирович Маяко́вский) (July 7 (O.S.) July 19 (N.S.), 1893 – April 14, 1930) was among the foremost representatives for the poetic futurism of early 20th century Tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union. ...

Oskaras Milašius (Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz Milosz) (1877-1939) is a paradoxical and interesting phenomenon in Lithuanian culture. He never lived in Lithuania but was born and spent his childhood in Cereja (near Mogilev, Belarus) and graduated from Lycée Janson de Sailly in Paris. His longing for his fatherland was more metaphysical. Having to choose between two conflicting countries — Lithuania and Poland — he preferred Lithuania which for him was an idea even more than a fatherland. In 1920 when France recognized the independence of Lithuania, he was appointed officially as Charge d’Affairs for Lithuania. He published: 1928, a collection of 26 Lithuanian songs; 1930, Lithuanian Tales and Stories; 1933, Lithuanian Tales; 1937, The origin of the Lithuanian Nation, in which he tried to persuade the reader that Lithuanians have the same origin as Jews from the Pyrenees peninsula. Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz Milosz - Oskaras MilaÅ¡ius (1877-1939) - French-Lithuanian writer and Lithuanian diplomat. ... Mogilev, or MahiloÅ­ (Belarusian Магілёў (Mahilyow), Russian Могилёв (Mogilev, Mogilyov), Polish Mohylew or Mogilew) is a city in eastern Belarus, close to the border to Russia with about 300,000 inhabitants. ... Lycée Janson de Sailly is a lycée located in the XVIe arrondissement of Paris, France. ... Part of the Paris skyline with from left to right: Montparnasse Tower, Eiffel Tower, and in the background, towers of neighboring La Défense. ...

Folk music

Main article: Music of Lithuania Lithuania has a long history of folk, popular and classical musical development. ...

Lithuanian folk music is based around songs (dainos), which include romantic and wedding songs, as well as work songs and archaic war songs. These songs used to be performed either in groups or alone, and in parallel chords or unison. Duophonic songs are common in the renowned sutartinės tradition of Aukštaitija. Another style of Lithuanian folk music is called rateliai, a kind of round dance. Instrumentation includes kanklės, a kind of zither that accompanies sutartinės, rateliai, waltzes, quadrilles and polkas, and fiddles, (including a bass fiddle called the basetle) and a kind of whistle called the lumzdelis; recent importations, beginning in the late 19th century, including the concertina, accordion and bandoneon. Sutartinė can be accompanied by skudučiai, a form of panpipes played by a group of people, as well as wooden trumpets (ragai and dandytės). Kanklės is an extremely important folk instrument, which differs in the number of strings and performance techniques across the country. Other traditional instruments include švilpas whistle, drums and tabalas (a percussion instrument like a gong), sekminių ragelis (bagpipe) and the pūslinė, a musical bow made from a pig's bladder filled with dried peas.^[5] Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and for the common people. ... A daina is a traditional form of music or poetry in the Baltic. ... Chord may mean: Chord (geometry), a line segment joining two points on a curve Chord (graph theory), an edge joining two not-adjacent nodes in a cycle Chord (music), an aggregate of musical pitches sounded simultaneously Chord (aviation), the distance between the front and back of a wing, measured in... UNISON logo UNISON is the largest trade union in the United Kingdom, with over 1. ... In synthesizers, capable of sounding two voices, or notes, at a time. ... AukÅ¡taitija (litterally Highlands) is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. ... There are two distinct dance categories called Round Dance. ... KanklÄ—s of Žemaitija The KanklÄ—s (IPA: //) is a Lithuanian plucked string musical instrument (chordophone), related to the zither. ... A Musima Guitar Zither 45 strings with 21 melody, 24 chords The zither is a musical string instrument, mainly used in folk music. ... The waltz (G.: Walzer, It. ... Quadrille is a historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. ... Street musicians in Prague playing a polka Polka is a type of dance and genre of dance music. ... The fiddle is a violin played as a folk instrument. ... A whistle is a one-note woodwind instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. ... English concertina made by Wheatstone around 1920 A concertina, like the various accordions, is a member of the free-reed family of instruments. ... A 24-bass piano accordion An accordion is a musical instrument of the handheld bellows-driven free reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as squeezeboxes. ... The bandone n is a free-reed instrument instrument particularly popular in Argentina. ... Pan pipes (also known as the panflute or the syrinx or quills) is an ancient musical instrument based on the principle of the stopped pipe, consisting usually of ten or more pipes of gradually increasing length. ... Trumpets in the Bible According to Eastons Bible Dictionary, trumpets in the Bible were of a great variety of forms and were made of various materials. ... Look up String in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A gong is any one of a wide variety of metal percussion instruments. ... A bagpipe performer in Amsterdam. ... For the device drawn across the strings of string instruments such as the violin to make them sound, see bow (music). ...

See also

• Lithuania
• Baltic states
• List of Lithuanians
• Lithuanian-Americans
• Famous Lithuanian people

Baltic states and the Baltic Sea The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a term which nowadays refers to three countries in Northern Europe: Estonia Latvia Lithuania Prior to World War II, Finland was sometimes considered, particularly by the Soviet Union, a fourth Baltic state. ... This is a list of Lithuanians, both people of Lithuanian descent and people with the birthplace or citizenship of Lithuania. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into List of Lithuanians. ...

References