Lithuanians

Lithuanians(Lithuanian:lietuviai) are aBaltic ethnic group. They are native toLithuania, where they number around 2,378,118 people.Another two million make up the Lithuaniandiaspora, largely found in countries such as theUnited States,United Kingdom,BrazilandCanada. Their native language isLithuanian, one of only two surviving members of theBaltic languagefamily along withLatvian. According to thecensus conducted in 2021, 84.6% of thepopulation of Lithuaniaidentified themselves as Lithuanians. Most Lithuanians belong to theCatholic Church, while theLietuvininkaiwho lived in the northern part ofEast Prussiaprior to World War II, were mostlyLutherans.
The territory of the Balts, including modern Lithuania, was once inhabited by several Baltic tribal entities (Sudovians,Lithuanians,Curonians,Semigallians,Selonians,Samogitians,Skalvians,Old Prussians(Nadruvians)), as attested by ancient sources and dating from prehistoric times. Over the centuries, and especially under theGrand Duchy of Lithuania, some of these tribes consolidated into the Lithuanian nation, mainly as a defence against the maraudingTeutonic OrderandEastern Slavs. The Lithuanian state was formed in theHigh Middle Ages, with different historians dating this variously between the11thandmid-13thcenturies.Mindaugas, Lithuania's only crowned king and its first baptised ruler, is generally considered Lithuania's founder.The Lithuanians are the only branch ofBaltic peoplethat managed to create astate entitybefore themodern era.During theLate Middle Ages, Lithuania was ravaged by theLithuanian Crusade, which ended only by theTreaty of Melnoin 1422. In fact, the crusade persisted after the definiteChristianization of Lithuaniain 1387, when Europe's lastpaganpeople were baptised.Simultaneously, the Lithuanian state reached its apogee under the rule ofVytautas the Great(r.1392–1430), when it ruled the lands between theBalticandBlackseas. Thereafter, theGrand Duchy of Lithuaniacontinued existing until 1795, however, since theUnion of Lublinin 1569, it maintained its independence in the bi-confederalPolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.In the 16th century the Lithuanian humanists based the national consciousness of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on the idea of their national singularity or uniqueness and considered the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as an independent country.
There is a current argument that the Lithuanian language was considered non-prestigious enough by some elements in Lithuanian society, meaning that the number of Lithuanian language-speakers decreased withPolonizationin thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, as well as aGermanisation of Prussia. The subsequentimperial Russianoccupation from 1795 until 1915, with some interpositions such as theFrench invasion of Russiain 1812, theUprisings of 1831and1863, accelerated this process of Slavicization. While under Russian occupation, Lithuanians enduredRussification, which included the 40-year-longban on public speaking and writing in Lithuanian(see, e.g.,Knygnešiai, the actions against the Catholic Church). In such a context, theLithuanian National Revivalbegan in the 19th century. Some believed at the time that the Lithuanian nation as such, along with its language, would become extinct within a few generations.
Some of the Polish- and Belarusian-speaking persons from the lands of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania expressed their affiliation with the modern Lithuanian nation in the early 20th century, includingMichał Pius Römer,Stanisław Narutowicz,Oscar MiloszandTadas Ivanauskas
In February 1918, whileWorld War Iwas ongoing, there-establishment of an independent Lithuanian state was declared, 122 years after it was destroyed. In theaftermath of World War I, Lithuanians militarily defended their country's independence fromPoland,WhitesandSoviet Russiaduring theLithuanian Wars of Independence. However, a third of Lithuania's lands, namely theVilnius Region, as well as its declared capital, fell under Polish occupation during theInterwar. A standardised Lithuanian language was approved. In the lead-up to the World War II, theKlaipėda Regionwas occupied byNazi Germanyafter the1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania.
The territory inhabited by the ethnic Lithuanians has shrunk over centuries; once Lithuanians made up a majority of the population not only in what is nowLithuania, but also in northwesternBelarus, in large areas of the territory of the modernKaliningrad Oblastof Russia, and in some parts of modernLatviaand Poland.
In 1940, Lithuania was invaded and occupied by theSoviet Union, and forced to join it as theLithuanian SSR. The Germans and their allies attacked the USSR in June 1941, and from 1941 to 1944, Lithuania was occupied by Germany. The Germans retreated in 1944, and Lithuania fell under Soviet rule once again. The long-standing communities of Lithuanians in the Kaliningrad Oblast (Lithuania Minor) were almost destroyed as a result.
The Lithuanian nation as such remained primarily in Lithuania, a few villages in northeastern Poland, southernLatviaand also in the diaspora of emigrants. Some indigenous Lithuanians still remain in Belarus and the Kaliningrad Oblast, but their numbers are 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 theEuropean Unionon May 1, 2004.
Among theBaltic 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% asPoles, 6.31% asRussians, 1.23% asBelarusians, and 2.27% as members of other ethnic groups such asUkrainians,Jews,Germans,Tatars,Latvians,Romani,Estonians,Crimean Karaitesetc.
Poles are mostly concentrated in theVilnius County. Especially large Polish communities are located in theVilnius District Municipalityand theŠalčininkai District Municipality.
Despite being the capital, Vilnius was not the largest city by number of Lithuanians until mid-2000s. According to the 2011 census Vilnius had 337,000 Lithuanians whileKaunashad 316,000.
Russians, even though they are almost as numerous as Poles, are much more evenly scattered. The most prominent community lives in theVisaginas Municipality(52%). Most of them are workers who moved from Russia to work at theIgnalina Nuclear Power Plant. A number of ethnic Russians left Lithuania after the declaration of independence in 1990.
In the past, the ethnic composition of Lithuania has varied dramatically. The most prominent change was the extermination of the Jewish population duringthe 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 northernJerusalem, was about 30% Jewish.Almost all its Jews were killed duringthe Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Lithuania, some 75,000 alone between the years 1941 – 1942,while others later immigrated to the United States and Israel. Now there are about 3,200 Jews living in Lithuania.
Apart from the various religious and ethnic groups currently residing in Lithuania, Lithuanians themselves retain and differentiate between their regional identities; there are 5 historic regional groups:Žemaičiai,Suvalkiečiai,Aukštaičiai,DzūkaiandPrūsai,the last of which is virtually extinct. City dwellers are usually considered just Lithuanians, especially ones from large cities such asVilniusorKaunas.
The four 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.
Since the lateNeolithicperiod the native inhabitants of the Lithuanian territory have not been replaced by migrations from outside, so there is a high probability that the inhabitants of present-day Lithuania have preserved the genetic composition of their forebears relatively undisturbed by the major demographic movements,although without being actually isolated from them.The Lithuanian population appears to be relatively homogeneous, without apparent genetic differences among ethnic subgroups.
A 2004 analysis ofmtDNAin a Lithuanian population revealed that Lithuanians are close to bothIndo-EuropeanandUralic-speaking populations of Northern Europe.Y-chromosomeSNPhaplogroupanalysis showed Lithuanians to be closest toLatvians,Estonians,Belarusiansand southernFinns. This is the result ofIron Age Europe.AutosomalSNP analysis situates Lithuanians most proximal toLatvians, followed by the westernmostEast Slavs; furthermore,GermansandWest Slavs(especiallyPoles) are situated more proximal to Lithuanians than Finns and northern Russians.
LithuanianAshkenazi Jewsdisplay a number of unique genetic characteristics; the utility of these variations has been the subject of debate.One variation, which is implicated in familialhypercholesterolemia, has been dated to the 14th century, corresponding to the establishment of Ashkenazi settlements in response to the invitation extended byVytautas the Greatin 1388.
At the end of the 19th century, the average height of males was 163.5 cm (5 ft 4 in) and the average height of females was 153.3 cm (5 ft 0 in). By the end of the 20th century, heights averaged 181.3 cm (5 ft 11 in) for males and 167.5 cm (5 ft 6 in) for females.
Lithuanian settlement extends into adjacent countries that are now outside the modern Lithuanian state. A small Lithuanian community exists in the vicinity ofPuńskandSejnyin theSuwałkiarea of Poland, an area associated with the Lithuanian writer and clericAntanas Baranauskas.Although most of the Lithuanian inhabitants in the region ofLithuania Minorthat formed part ofEast Prussiawere expelled when the area was annexed by theSoviet Unionas theKaliningrad Oblast, small groups of Lithuanians subsequently settled that area as it was repopulated with new Soviet citizens. Small groups ofLithuanians are still present in Belaruswithin theGrodnoandVitebsk regions.
Apart from the traditional communities in Lithuania and its neighboring countries, Lithuanians have emigrated to other continents during the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
The Lithuanian national sport is usually considered to bebasketball(krepšinis), which is popular among Lithuanians in Lithuania as well as in the diasporic communities. Basketball came to Lithuania through theLithuanian-American communityin the 1930s. Lithuanian basketball teams were bronze medal winners in the1992,1996, and2000 Summer Olympics.
Joninės(also known asRasos) is a traditional national holiday, celebrated on the summer solstice. It has pagan origins.Užgavėnės(Shrove Tuesday) takes place on the day beforeAsh Wednesday, and is meant to urge the retreat of winter. There are also national traditions for Christian holidays such asEasterandChristmas.
Lithuanian cuisine has much in common with other European cuisines and 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. Nevertheless, it has its own distinguishing features, which were formed by a variety of influences during the country's rich history.
Since shared similarities in history and heritage, Lithuanians, Jews and Poles have developed many similar dishes and beverages: dumplings (koldūnai), doughnuts (spurgos), and crepes (lietiniai blynai). German traditions also influenced Lithuanian cuisine, introducing pork and potato dishes, such as potato pudding (kugelis) and potato sausages (vėdarai), as well as thebaroquetree cake known asšakotis. Traditional dishes ofLithuanian TatarsandLithuanian KaraiteslikeKibinaiandčeburekai, that are similar topasty, are popular in Lithuania.
For Lithuanian Americans both traditional Lithuanian dishes ofvirtinukai(cabbage and noodles) andbalandėliai(rolled cabbage) are growing increasingly more popular.
There are also regional cuisine dishes, e.g. traditionalkastinysinŽemaitija, Western Lithuania,Skilandisin Western and Central Lithuania,Kindziukasin Eastern and Southern Lithuania (Dzūkija).
Cepelinai, a stuffed potato creation, is the most popular national dish. It is popular among Lithuanians all over the world. Other national foods include darkrye bread,cold beet soup(šaltibarščiai), andkugelis(a baked potato pudding). Some of these foods are also common in neighboring countries.Lithuanian cuisineis generally unknown outside Lithuanian communities. Most Lithuanian restaurants outside Lithuania are located in cities with a heavy Lithuanian presence.
Lithuanians in the early 20th century were among the thinnest people in the developed countries of the world.In Lithuanian cuisine there is some emphasis on attractive presentation of freshly prepared foods.
Lithuania has been brewingmidus, a type of Lithuanianmeadfor thousands of years.
Locally brewedbeer(alus),vodka(degtinė), andkvass(gira) are popular drinks in Lithuania. Lithuanian traditional beer of Northern Lithuania,Biržai,Pasvalysregions is well appreciated in Lithuania and abroad.Starkais a part of the Lithuanian heritage, still produced in Lithuania.
AmongIndo-European languages, Lithuanian isconservativein its grammar and phonology, retaining archaic features otherwise found only in ancient languages such asSanskrit(particularly its early form,Vedic Sanskrit) orAncient Greek.Thus, it is an important source for the reconstruction of theProto-Indo-European languagedespite its late attestation (with the earliest texts dating only toc.1500 A.D., whereas Ancient Greek was first written down inc.1450 B.C.).There was fascination with the Lithuanian people and their language among the late 19th-century researchers, and the philologistIsaac Taylorwrote the following in hisThe Origin of the Aryans(1892):
TheProto-Balto-Slaviclanguage branched off directly from Proto-Indo-European, then sub-branched intoProto-BalticandProto-Slavic. Proto-Baltic branched off into Proto-West Baltic and Proto-East Baltic.Baltic languages passed through aProto-Balto-Slavicstage, from which Baltic languages retain numerous exclusive and non-exclusive lexical, morphological, phonological and accentual isoglosses in common with theSlavic languages, which represent their closest living Indo-European relatives. Moreover, with Lithuanian being so archaic in phonology, Slavic words can often be deduced from Lithuanian by regularsound laws; for example, Lith.vilkasandPolishwilk←PBSl.*wilkás(cf.PSl.*vьlkъ) ←PIE*wĺ̥kʷos, all meaning "wolf".
When theban against printing the Lithuanian languagewas lifted in 1904, various European literary movements such asSymbolism,impressionism, andexpressionismeach in turn influenced the work of Lithuanian writers. The first period of Lithuanian independence (1918–1940) 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 wasVincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, a novelist and dramatist. His many works includeDainavos šalies senų žmonių padavimai(Old Folks Tales ofDainava, 1912) and the historical dramasŠarūnas(1911),Skirgaila(1925), andMindaugo mirtis(The Death ofMindaugas, 1935).Petras Vaičiūnaswas another popular playwright, producing one play each year during the 1920s and 1930s.Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinaswrote lyric poetry, plays, and novels, including the novelAltorių šešėly(In the Shadows of the Altars, 3 vol., 1933), a remarkably powerful autobiographical novel.
Keturi vėjaimovement started with publication ofThe Prophet of the Four Windsby talented poetKazys Binkis(1893—1942). It was rebellion against traditional poetry. The theoretical basis ofKeturi vėjaiinitially wasfuturismwhich arrived through Russia from the West and latercubism,dadaism,surrealism,unanimism, and Germanexpressionism. The most influensive futurist for Lithuanian writers was Russian poetVladimir Mayakovsky.
Oskaras Milašius (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 (nearMogilev,Belarus) and graduated fromLycée Janson de Saillyin 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 Chargé d'Affaires 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.
Since theChristianizationof parts ofLithuania properin 1387 and ofSamogitiain 1413, the majority of Lithuanians have been members of the RomanCatholic Church. According to the 2021 census, 74% of Lithuanians are Roman Catholic.Under Article 26 of theConstitution of Lithuania, persons can freely practice a religion of their choosing.
Catholicism played a significant role in Lithuanian anti-communist resistance under theSoviet Union. Several Catholic priests were leaders of the anti-communist movements, and thousands ofLatin crosseswere placed on theHill of CrossesnearŠiauliai, despite its being bulldozed in 1961.
Lithuanianfolk musicis 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 parallelchordsorunison.Duophonicsongs are common in the renownedsutartinėstradition ofAukštaitija. Another style of Lithuanian folk music is calledrateliai, a kind ofround dance. Instrumentation includeskanklės, a kind ofzitherthat accompanies sutartinės, rateliai,waltzes,quadrillesandpolkas, andfiddles, (including a bass fiddle called thebasetle) and a kind ofwhistlecalled theLamzdeliailumzdelis; recent importations, beginning in the late 19th century, including theconcertina,accordionandbandoneon. Sutartinė can be accompanied byskudučiai, a form ofpanpipesplayed by a group of people, as well as woodentrumpets(ragaianddandytės). Kanklės is an extremely important folk instrument, which differs in the number ofstringsand performance techniques across the country. Other traditional instruments includešvilpaswhistle, drums andtabalas(a percussion instrument like agong),sekminių ragelis(bagpipe) and thepūslinė, amusical bowmade from a pig's bladder filled with dried peas.