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| Learn the local customs of Lithuania. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Lithuania locals. Map |
 | Lithuania Local Customs | Tips 11 - 20 of 51 |  |
In most of cultures the cross is a very important symbol. Lithuania is no exception . But our traditional crosses are. That's why traditional Lithuanian cross making art is the heritage protected by UNESCO. Although we, Lithuanians, are mostly christians now, we were the last pagans of Europe. And we still have saved a lot from those times.
It's still the tradition to make a cross( acctually, we say "to build the cross" ) to remember some important event or person, to ask for protection or some favour, to make some vote. Just remember the famous Hill of Crosses.
Lithuanian crosses are quite unique because mostly they are not the crosses at all. We make traditional form cross, of course. But there's little chance that you will see the cross-sun or chapel-pillar in any other country.
The cross-sun has basic of traditional cross, but it has extra diagonal rays. Usually, it is carved from wood or done from iron by blacksmith. The rays are not always straight - they may be curved or zigzaz, they may split and in the middle and join at the end or have some extra curves or ornaments at their ends, just anything you imagine. So sometimes the cross-sun reminds a flower rather than cross.
The chapel-pillar doesn't look like cross at all, even if it has the same meaning. It looks like some pillar with kind of roof or box on top of it. Sometimes little statue of Rupintojelis( the Carer- statue of sitting Jezus Christ), Holy Virgin or some saint is placed inside that carved box. Chapel-pillars are always carved from wood.
In some of the regions you can see crosses decorated with tiny aprons- it is a vote. If a women couldn't have children she had to make this little apron, embroider or put some crochet work. Late at night she would go to a village cross. tie the apron and pray. All this she had to do unnoticed, otherwise her wish would not come true. Leave a Comment
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AUTUMN-TIME FOR WEDDINGS!!! But everybody prefers doing it in summer.
Weddings are a very important cultural tip because they indicate prolongation of family line and consequently - survival of the nation. Therefore weddings in Lithuania is not a business of two people. It is a duty of two families and a feast for all relatives, friends, neighbours, and all villagers! Normally it lasts two days, sometimes three days.
There are a lot of traditional elements of weddings, but at present one of the funniest moments during a wedding party is the execution of the match-maker (a person who introduced the bride and the groom). Toward the end of the wedding party the bride's relatives come to realise that their sister has been taken in by the promises of the match-maker. Having proved that his description of the groom's possessions was highly exaggerated they decide to hang the match-maker. Sometimes he is sentenced to death by burning him in water, by freezing on the stove or by sending him to sleep in a hayloft with all the girls of the neighbourhood. The match-maker asks to be allowed to say goodbye to his friends. His speech sounds touching and heart-breaking. Then he smears his face with soot and tries to kiss every woman in the house. Finally the bride takes pity on the poor man and as a sign of her forgiveness she throws a towel across his shoulder. The match-maker is saved and the merry guests hang a dummy match-maker instead. Leave a Comment
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Even though Lithuania is a small country, it is traditionally divided into four main ethnic regions. These divisions are based on dialects, traditions and other cultural elements: Aukstaitija (east), Zemaitija (west), Dzukija (southeast) and Suvalkija (southwest). People in these regions are different too.
Dzukija people are sincere, sensitive, gentle and friendly.
Suvalkija people are known for their industriousness, logical minds and thrift. Neighboring peoples joke that in Suvalkija, farmers bring only live turkeys to feasts for guests... to peck at the crumbs.
Aukstaitija's inhabitants are said to be merry, poetic, ambitious farming people. (I was born in this district :)).
The people of Zemaitija are very reserved, reticent, stubborn and slow to make decisions, but sure to achieve their goals. It is said that what will be, what won't be, but a zemaitis will always survive. Leave a Comment
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If you see two Lithuanians singing, do not ask them what a song is this. They just talk:). Lithuanian language is very melodious.
While other Indo-European languages underwent rapid transformations, the languages in the Baltic branch, and Lithuanian in particular, remained relatively unchanged. Out of all of the living Indo-European languages, it has best retained archaic sound systems, many morphologies and lexical features. For this reason, it is difficult for researchers to fully comprehend Indo-European languages without knowledge of Lithuanian. Sanskrit and the Baltic languages constitute two poles between which are sought the origins of the Indo-European languages. There are in fact many similarities between these two tongues. Leave a Comment
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If you want to be respected by Lithuanian....you should be a “serious man” because in Lithuanian society the highest praise you can give someone was traditionally: 'He or she is a serious person' (rimtas zmogus). It means a lot of things. The word rimtas (it's related to ramus = calm, peaceful) suggests a whole host of positive attributes in the person it describes: reliability, discretion, sense of responsibility, sobriety, steadfastness. In fact, it implies a well balanced person, who does indeed know when to laugh, but also when to play it straight. Leave a Comment
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POLITICS – tricky thing. You can look very nice until you get in it. Later all your sins will be scrutinised by the journalists – the third authority in Lithuania. The faces of politicians you can see in the picture are loved and hated in Lithuania:
Brazauskas, our former President and the present Prime Minister. Real political disnosaur. He survived in high posts during the soviet and independant times.
Landsbergis, former Chairman of the Parliament was outstanding figure in the last decade. He was praised for the Independence and blamed for destroying of economy. Now he moved to European Parliament.
Paksas, the ex-President tried to fly high, but finished his days in politics with scandal.
Paulauskas, the present Chairman of the Parliament.
Adamkus (between), our beloved President, reminds us Don Kichot, who tries to cope with windmills. Althought, he has done a lot in the accession negotiations with EU and NATO.
So far, these persons are constant among inconstant, stern and unpredictable electors. Leave a Comment
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Learn few phrases in Lithuanian - that will open the hearts of people.
Just remember:
Labas rytas - Good morning
Laba diena - Good day
Labas vakaras - good evening
Aciu (pronounced: Achiu) - Thank you
Prasom (pron: prashom) - please, here you are
Ar kalbate angliskai? - Do you speak English? Leave a Comment
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'Uzupys' is very old & interesting part of vilnius old town. there are a lot of artists living here & much more art students dreaming one day to live here as well:) ( it is one of the most place in Vilnius for buying a flat or house.Wonderful architecture (one of the best places for the photograps to take black & white pics:)....artistic atmosphere.....:) Leave a Comment
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When going out for a few drinks with friends many Lithuanians, especially youths, don’t go to bars or clubs. Instead, they pick up a few drinks in the liquor store and find themselves a nice bench on a hill, in a park, on the beach or wherever and enjoy a few drinks and laughs. I guess it’s a lot cheaper but I also think their evening is quite different compared to going to a bar. You’re among friends, sitting under the stars, not being disturbed by loud music and other people; I think it’s a lot more intimate. Don't worry, there are also plenty of clubs, pubs and restaurants available, you don't have to follow their example. But I guess these places are not affordable for all Lithuanians and so they have come up with an enjoyable alternative. Leave a Comment
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Most of literature and songs was strongly associated with nature of living place.
Songs tell us about blue rivers, lakes, green forests and swamps.
Literature mostly talks about the life of people in the same nature. Leave a Comment
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