Lithuanians

This article is about the ethnic group called Lithuanians. For the inhabitants of Lithuania, see Demographics of Lithuania.

Lithuanians are the ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number a little over 3 million ^*. 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 surving 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, 2.27% as member of other ethnic groups. Most Lithuanians belong to the Roman Catholic Church. The Lietuvininkai, a part of the Lithuanian nation near the former German-Lithuanian border, were mostly Lutherans.

History

The territory of the Balts, including modern Lithuania, was once inhabited by several Baltic tribal entities (Sudovians, Lamatians, Curonians, Selonians, Samogitians, Nadruvians and others), 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.

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.

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), number of Lithuanian speakers shrank. Subsequent imperial Russian occupation accelerated this process due to process of russification (ban on public speaking and writing in Lithuanian (see, e.g., "Knygnešiai"), actions against Catholic church). It was believed by some at the time that the nation as such would become extinct within a few generations.

At the end of the 19th century a Lithuanian cultural and linguistic revival occurred. Some of 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 in national consolidation. A standard Lithuanian language was approved. However, the eastern parts of Lithuania were occupied by Poland as the Vilnius region, while the western 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. Long-standing communities of Lithuanians in the Kaliningrad Oblast ("Lithuania Minor"), and in the Belarusian SSR, were almost destroyed as a result.

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 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. Low birth rate and increased emigration after joining EU is threatening nation's future.

Ethnic composition of Lithuania

Main Article: Demographics of Lithuania

Lithuania among the Baltic states has the most homogeneous population. According to the census conducted in 2001, 83.45% of the population identified themselves as Lithuanians, 6.74% as Poles, 6.31% as Russians, 1.23% as Belarusians, 2.27% as member of other ethnic groups.

Poles are concentrated in the Vilnius region, area controlled by Poland in the interwar period. Especially large Pole communities are in Vilnius district municipality (61.3% of the population) and Šalčininkai district municipality (79.5%). Such concentration allows Election Action of Lithuania's Poles, an ethnic minority-based political party, to have political influence. This party held 1-2 seats in the parliament of Lithuania for the past decade. The party is more active in local politics and controls several municipality councils.

Russians, even though their number is very close to Poles, are much more evenly scattered and do not have a strong political party. The most prominent community lives in Visaginas city municipality (52%). Most of them are scientists who moved from Russia to work in the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Lithuania is noted for 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.

In the past, ethnic composition of Lithuania has changed dramatically. The most prominent change is the extermination of the Jewish population during the Holocaust. Before the 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. Population of Vilnius, sometimes nicknamed Northern Jerusalem, was about 30% Jewish. Almost all 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.

Cultural Subgroups

Beyond the various religious and ethnic groups currently residing in Lithuania, Lithuanians 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.

The five groups are determinated according to certain region-specific traditions, dialects, historical divisions and such. There are also some stereotypes used in jokes about these subgroups, e.g. that Sudovians are supposedly frugal while Samogitians are stubborn.

Genetics

Lithuanians are one of tallest peoples in the world. Average height of males is 181.3 cm, females - 167.5 cm. Height acceleration was fast through the 20th century although now it has slowed down. In the end of 19th century height of males was 163.5 cm and height of females was 153.3 cm. J. Tutkuviene. Sex and gender differences in secular trend of body size and frame indices of Lithuanians. Anthropologischer Anzeiger; Bericht über die biologisch-anthropologische Literatur. 2005 Mar;63(1):29-44.

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.
Communities in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, 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 due to the fact that economic conditions in those countries are not better than those in Lithuania (see Lithuanians in Brazil).
Communities in different 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 destalinization 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).
Communities in Western Europe (UK, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, 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 had large Lithuanian Catholic and Jewish populations earlier).
Communities in Australia exist as well; due to the great distance of the continent however, emigration there, was minuscule. There are Lithuanian communities in some cities, like Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane and Sydney.

Culture and Traditions

The Lithuanian national sport is usually considered to be basketball, which is popular among Lithuanians in Lithuania and as well as in the diasporic communities. Basketball came to Lithuania through the Lithuanian-American community in the thirties.

Joninės (also known as Rasos) is a traditional national holiday, celebrated on the summer solistice. It has pagan origins. The Užgavėnės holiday occurs before Ash Sunday, and is meant to urge the retreat of winter. Also there are national traditions for Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas.

Lithuanian Cuisine

Main Article: Lithuanian cuisine

Lithuanian cuisine consists mostly of the traditional Lithuanian dishes. Because of a rather common climate and agriculture, many similar staples are grown and consumed in all Eastern Europe, thus Lithuanian cuisine belongs to a big family of Eastern European cuisines. Nevertheless, it has its own peculiarities, which were formed during the country's difficult history and by many different influences.

Because of long common history with Poland, Lithuanians share many similar dishes and beverages. Thus they have their own versions of pierogi (koldūnai), pączki (spurgos), blini (blynai). German traditions also influenced Lithuanian cuisine during ages, while introducing a lot of pork and potato dishes, such as potato pudding kugelis, potato sausages vėdarai. The most exotic part of all the influences is Eastern (Karaite cuisine and other) influence, and such dishes as kibinai, čeburekai are popular in Lithuania.

Soviet occupation badly damaged Lithuanian cuisine because of the continual lack of products and the constraints of traditional culture. But after restoring its independence in 1990, traditional cuisine becomes one of the ways to recreate Lithuanian identity.

Cepelinai is the most famous national food. It is popular among Lithuanians all over the world. Other national foods include dark rye bread, cold borscht - šaltibarščiai, and kugelis (a baked potato pudding). Some of these foods are also common in neighboring countries. Lithuanian cuisine is generally not popular outside Lithuanian communities. Most of Lithuanian restaurants outside Lithuania are established in areas with a high Lithuanian presence.

Beer, vodka, and kvass are popular drinks in Lithuania. Starka is part of Lithuanian heritage but not produced in Lithuania anymore.

Lithuanian literature

Main Article: Lithuanian literature

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 look into 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.

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 Alfonsas Nyka-Niliūnas. Keturi vėjai ir keturvėjinikai, Aidai, 1949, No. 24.

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.

Folk music

''Main article: Music of Lithuania

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.Cronshaw, Andrew (2000). “Singing Revolutions”, Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.) World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, 16-24, London: Rough Guides. ISBN 1858286360.

References

Baltic peoples | Ethnic groups in Europe | Lithuanian people

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