Lithuania

Flag

Emblem

The National Hymn• Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų,

Tu didvyrių žeme,Iš praeities Tavo sūnūsTe stiprybę semia.

• Tegul Tavo vaikai einaVien takais dorybės,Tegul dirba Tavo naudaiIr žmonių gėrybei.

• Tegu saulė LietuvojTamsumas prašalina,Ir šviesa, ir tiesaMūs žingsnius telydi.

• Tegul meilė LietuvosDega mūsų širdyse,Vardan tos, LietuvosVienybė težydi!

• Official English translation[1]• Lithuania, our homeland,

Land of heroes!Let your sons draw their strengthFrom our past experience

• Let your children always followOnly roads of virtue,May your own, mankind’s well-beingBe the goals they work for

• May the sun above our landBanish darkening clouds aroundLight and truth all alongGuide our steps forever

• May the love of LithuaniaBrightly burn in our hearts.For the sake of this landLet unity blossom

President

• Dalia Grybauskaitė

Money

• The Lithuanian litas (ISO currency code LTL, symbolized as Lt; plural litai or litų) is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų (genitive case; singular centas, nominative plural centai). (1 Eu = 3,45 Lt).

Parliamentary Republic

Regions

Capital - Vilnius

Largest citiesKaunas Klaipėda

Nature

• lakes • rivers

Nature

• forests • Dunes

Baltic sea

SightseeingsTrakai castle

Kaunas castle

Ventė Cape (Lithuanian: Ventės ragas; sometimes referred to as Ventė Horn or Ventė Peninsula) is a headland in Nemunas Delta. It is known as a rest place

for many birds during their migrations, particularly the autumn migration. One of the first bird ringing stations in Europe, still in operation, was opened here by

Tadas Ivanauskas in 1929.

Open-Air Museum of the Centre of Europe

The geographical centre of Europe near Vilnius

The Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai

St. Anne's Church, Vilnius

Vilnius University was founded in 1579

History

Lithuania• The history of Lithuania dates back

to at least 1009, the first recorded written use of the term.

• In the autumn or at the end of 1008 Bruno and eighteen companions set out to found a mission among the Prussians; they succeeded in converting Netimer, a "king of Lithuanians", and then traveled to the east, heading very likely towards Yotvingia. Yotvingia was a Prussian region, then subordinate to Kievan Rus (since 983), that intersected the borders of what was then Prussia, Kievan Rus and the Duchy of Lithuania. Lithuanians later conquered neighboring lands, finally establishing the Kingdom of Lithuania in the 13th century.

Before statehood

• The first people arrived on the territory of modern Lithuania in the 10th millennium BC after the glaciers had retreated and the last glacial period had ended. According to historian Marija Gimbutas, the people came from two directions: from the Jutland Peninsula and from present-day Poland. They brought two different cultures as evidenced by the tools they used. They were traveling hunters and did not form more stable settlements.

• Crafts and trade also started to form at this time. Proto-Indo-Europeans came around 2500 BC, and the identity of the Balts formed about 2000 BC.

Kernavė mounds

• The first Lithuanians were a branch of an ancient group known as the Balts, whose tribes also included the original Prussian and Latvian people. The Baltic tribes were not directly influenced by the Roman Empire, but the tribes did maintain close trade contacts (see Amber Road).

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

• Pagan Lithuania• In the early 13th century two German

religious orders, the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, conquered much of the area that is now Estonia and Latvia, in addition to parts of Lithuania. In response, a number of small Baltic tribal groups united under the rule of Mindaugas and soundly defeated the Livonians at Šiauliai in the Battle of Saule in 1236. In 1250 Mindaugas signed an agreement with the Teutonic Order and in 1251 was baptized in their presence by the bishop of Chełmno (in Chełmno Land.) On 6 July 1253, Mindaugas was crowned as King of Lithuania and state was proclaimed as Kingdom of Lithuania.

Christian Lithuania

• The Christianization of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos krikštas) was the event that took place in 1387, initiated by the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Jogaila with his cousin Vytautas the Great, that signified the official adoption of Christianity by Lithuanians, one of the last pagan nations in Europe. This event ended one of the most complicated and lengthiest processes of Christianization in history.

• Fresco from Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune in Strasbourg, portraying 15 European states' path towards Christianity. Lithuania presented as the last figure.

Grand Duke of Lithuania

• Vytautas (Lithuanian: Vytautas Didysis (help·info), Belarusian: Вітаўт, Polish: Witold Kiejstutowicz; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350  – October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler (1392–1430) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians. He was also the Prince of Hrodna (1370–1382) and the Prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), postulated king of Hussites.

• In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revered as a national hero and was an important figure in the national rebirth in the 19th century. Vytautas is a popular male given name in Lithuania. Vytautas Magnus University was named after him. Monuments in his honour were built in many towns in the independent Republic of Lithuania during the interwar period, 1918–1939.

Lithuanian Renaissance

• In the 16th century, when many educated Lithuanians came back from studies abroad, Grand Duchy of Lithuania was boiling with active cultural life, sometimes referred to as Lithuanian Renaissance (not to be confused with Lithuanian National Revival in 19th century).

• At the time Italian architecture was introduced in Lithuanian cities, and Lithuanian literature written in Latin flourished. Also at the time emerged first handwritten and printed texts in the Lithuanian language, and began the formation of written Lithuanian language. The process was led by Lithuanian scholars Abraomas Kulvietis, Stanislovas Rapalionis, Martynas Mažvydas and Mikalojus Daukša.

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795)

• With the Union of Lublin of 1569 Poland and Lithuania formed a new state: the Republic of Both Nations (commonly known as Poland-Lithuania or the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth; Polish: Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodow, Lithuanian: Abiejų Tautų Respublika).

• Following the union, Polonization started to take place in Lithuanian public life, and took another 140 years to become a major factor. Under the influence of the Lithuanian upper classes and the church, who began to use Polish language more frequently[who?]. In 1696 Polish became an official language, replacing the previous Lithuanian language and Ruthenian languages.

• Despite the Union and integration of the two countries, for nearly two centuries Lithuania continued to exist as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, retaining separate laws as well as an Army and a Treasury.

Under Imperial Russia (1795–1914)

• Following the partitions of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire controlled the majority of Lithuania, including Vilnius, which made up a part of Vilna Governorate.

• In the early years of the 19th century, there were signs that Lithuania might be allowed some separate recognition by the Empire, however this never happened.

• Outline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with its major subdivisions as of 1619, superimposed on present-day national borders      Kingdom of Poland      Duchy of Prussia, Polish fief      Grand Duchy of Lithuania      Duchy of Courland, joint fief      Livonia

Independent Lithuania (1918–1940)

• The Council adopted the Act of Independence of Lithuania on February 16, 1918. It declared that Lithuania is an independent republic, organized based on democratic principles. Germans, still present in the country, did not support such a declaration and hindered any attempts to establish the proclaimed independence.

First Soviet occupation

• In August 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, with secret clauses assigning spheres of influence in the area of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania, initially assigned to the German sphere of influence, was transferred to the Soviets in secret additional protocols of the German–Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty of September 28, 1939. The city of Vilnius was occupied by the Red Army during the invasion of Poland. Soviet-proposed Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Pact transferred one fifth of the Vilnius Region (including Vilnius) to Lithuanian in exchange for stationing 20,000 Soviet troops within Lithuania.

Rebirth (1988–1990)

• In early 1990, Sąjūdis-backed candidates won the elections to the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet. On March 11, 1990, the Supreme Soviet proclaimed the re-establishment of Lithuanian independence. Lithuania was the first of the Soviet republics to declare independence.

• Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania with signatures of the delegates

Building the new state (1991–2008)

• In October 2002, Lithuania was invited to join the European Union (EU) and one month later to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); it became a member of both in 2004.

Famous people

• Laurynas Gucevičius 1753 – 1798

• considered to be the first professional Lithuanian architect

• Central palace in Verkiai

• The facade of the Vilnius Cathedral

Martynas Mažvydas

• First Lithuanian book The Simple Words of Catechism published in 1547

Justinas MarcinkevičiusLiterature

• was a prominent Lithuanian poet and playwrighter

Česlovas Milošas

• (1911–2004), recipient of the 1980 Nobel Prize for Literature

Oskaras Koršunovas

• Is a Lithuanian theatre director.

Violeta Urmanavičiūtė-Urmana

• Soprano vocalist

Nomeda Kazlauskaitė - Kazlaus

• opera singer (dramatic soprano) appearing internationally

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis,

• painter and composer

Jonas Basanavičius

• the patriarch of Lithuania's independence

Valdas Adamkus

• President Valdas Adamkus (right) chatting with Vice President Dick Cheney (left)

Marija Gimbutienė

• an archeologist

Kazimieras Būga

• (November 6, 1879 – December 2, 1924) was a Lithuanian linguist and philologist.

Algirdas Julien Greimas

• (1917-1992) linguist who contributed to the theory of semiotics, and also researched Lithuanian mythology

Virgilijus Alekna

• (1972) 2-time Olympic, 2-time World and 1-time European champion in discus throwing

Daina Gudzinevičiūtė (born on 23 December 1965)

• an Olympic shooting champion from Lithuania.

Žydrūnas Savickas

• 5-time winner of the "Arnold‘s Strongest Man" 1st Place

Austra Skujytė

• Olympic medalist at women's heptathlon

Povilas Vanagas ( 1970) and Margarita Drobiazko

Ice dancers

They are the 2000 World bronze medalists, three-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalists, two-time European bronze medalists (2000, 2006), 1999 Skate Canada champions and competed in five Winter Olympics, finishing as high as 5th.

Arvydas Sabonis (1964)

• Basketball pleyer

• Basketball coach

Antanas Sireika (1956)

Šarūnas Jasikevičius(1976)

• professional basketball player and is currently playing for Fenerbahçe Ülker

Steponas Darius(1896-1933)Stasys Girėnas (1893-1933)

• On July 15, 1933, along with Steponas Darius, he attempted a nonstop flight from New York City, to Kaunas, Lithuania - a total of 7,186 km, in a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker airplane named Lituanica. After successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 37 hours and 11 minutes, their plane crashed on July 17, 0:36 AM (Berlin Time) by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany (now Pszczelnik, Myślibórz County, Poland). Difficult weather conditions combined with engine defects were the findings of the official investigation. Both aviators were killed in the crash. They had covered a distance of 3,984 miles (6,411 kilometers) without landing, only 650 km short of their final destination.

Cultural life and tradicions

Christmas Eve (December 24)

Christmas (December 25 and December 26 )

Shrovetide

Palm Sunday

Easter - First Sunday and Monday of spring with full moon

St. John‘s Eve (June 24 )

The Assumption (August 15)

All Soul’s Day (1st of November)

Public holidays in Lithuania

• February 16 - Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania (1918)

•  March 11 - Day of Restitution of Independence of Lithuania (from the Soviet Union, 1990)

• First Sunday in May - Mother's Day• First Sunday in June - Father's Day• July 6 - Statehood Day, Commemorates

coronation of the first king, Mindaugas

Traditional food

Lithuanian brown bread and white cheese with honey

Beer, bread, cepelinai, smoked sausages

Lithuanian clothes

See more

• http://www.travel.lt