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Pagan Lithuania

February 18, 2011 By admin

Other than a brief mention by the Roman writer Tacitus, the first written reference to Lithuania as a nation is in 1009AD.  This reference is found in the annals of Quedlinburg monastery.
 
In the 11th century, Lithuania was included in the number of lands paying taxes to Kievan Rus (an area covering parts of modern day Russia, Poland and Ukraine.) By the 12th century, however, the tables had turned and the Lithuanians were themselves plundering their neighbouring territories.  Such military activities started a struggle for power which was eventually to lead to the formation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

By the early part of the 13th century, Lithuania was still a very much pagan country.  This led to it becoming threatened by groups of crusaders from Germany with the Knights of the Sword trying to forcibly convert those in the north and the Teutonic Knights doing the same to the south.  Tribal chiefs manage to resist this invasion but do seem to have considered the potential advantages of adopting either of the neighbouring religions, i.e. the Catholicism of Germany or the Orthodox church of the Russians. 

In 1251, Mindaugas, a Supreme Chieftain decides to become Catholic and he and his family are baptised.  However, he and his two sons are assassinated two years later by the strongly pagan opposition.  Still Pagan, Lithuania thrives under the rule of Gediminas from 1315.  It is at this point the Vilnius is made the country’s capital.  Gediminas extends his territory so much that by the time his grandson, Jogaila, inherits in 1377,Lithuania stretches through Belorussia and as far as the city of Kiev in the Ukraine.

It is under Jogaila that the problem of which religion to adopt is finally solved.  In 1385 He reaches an agreement with Polish ambassadors that Lithuania, Belorussia and Kiev become linked to the Polish crown.  In return, he agrees to marry the 11 year old Polish Queen and becomes the King of Poland.  The following February, Jogaila travels to Cracow where he is baptised in the Catholic cathedral, adding the Polish name Wladyslaw to his own.  Three days later he marries Jadwiga and is finally crowned on March 4th 1386 as Wladislaw II, thus marking the end of the last remaining wholly pagan kingdom in Europe.

Filed Under: Lithuania, Lithuania Culture, Lithuania History Tagged With: , ,

Lithuanian Art and Literature

February 13, 2011 By admin

It is sometimes said that culture is the main-stay of Lithuania’s survival.  Despite its history of occupation, the main Lithuanian ethnic group managed to preserve their cultural identity and allow the flowering of new creative forms of modernism and post-modernism.  After the end of Russian occupation in 1990 the largest Cultural Congress in Lithuania’s history took place in the capital, Vilnius.

Lithuania is home to over 50 museums and art galleries.  Modern fine-art in the country is thought to begin with Mikolojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis (1875 – 1911.)  His symbolic type of art mixes modern and folk themes together.  His paintings can be seen in the museum named after him in Kaunas.  Also in Kaunas,at the Mykolas Zilinskas Gallery, is Lithuania’s most valuable collection of works of art.

Lithuania has a long tradition of sculpture and many impressive statues can be seen in the country’s cities and towns.  During Soviet occupation many of the old monuments were destroyed although some have been renovated since the restoration of independence.  Some of the statues and sculptures from that time can be found in the Park of Soviet Sculpture (Grotto Parkas) near Druskininkai.  Some of the latest, post-independence paintings and sculptures can be seen in hotels and offices as well as in museums.

Literature, like art, has also seen a re-birth since 1990 brought independence to Lithuania once more.  The first acknowledged Lithuanian book is Catechismus by Martynas Mazyydas which was published in 1547.  Secular literature was initiated by Kristijonas Donelaitis (1714 -1780 and, ironically, a priest) who is the author of the poem “Metai” (the Year.)

During Soviet occupation in the late 19th century, Russia initiated a 40 year ban on printing in the Lithuanian language.  This led to printing being done in East Prussia and books in Lithuanian being smuggled into the country.  After the ban was lifted in 1904, literary movements such as symbolism and expressionism that existed elsewhere in Europe began to influence Lithuanian writers.  One outstanding literary figure from this period is Vincas Kreve-Mickevicius who was both a novelist and playwright.  Also popular from this time is Zemaite (1845 – 1921) who published short stories celebrating the joys and hardships of Lithuanian village life.  She is commemorated by her image being printed on the 1 Litas bank note.

Filed Under: Lithuania, Lithuania Culture Tagged With: , ,

Lithuanian Food

February 8, 2011 By admin

Food plays an important part in Lithuanian culture.  The moist Northern European climate means that a wide variety of ingredients can be grown successfully.  Potatoes, barley, rye, greens, beets, and many types of berries and mushrooms figure prominently.  Having borders with several Eastern European countries, such as Poland means that it is also influenced by other cuisines.  It also has things in common with Scandinavian food but nevertheless still has its own unique features.

Bread, the perennial staple food, tends to be the dark rye variety.  Sometimes flavoured with caraway or onion and served buttered or with cheese.  Bagels are also produced and eaten in Lithuania.
By far the most widely used vegetable in Lithuanian cooking is the potato.  Having been introduced to the country in the 18th century, they soon became indispensible and an enormous amount of potato based recipes exist, such as kugel – a potato pudding and kopytka which are similar to Italian gnocchi.

Beets are popular bases for soups and stews such as borscht whilst cabbage is used for side dishes or wrapped around a filling.  Tomatoes are grown in greenhouses and are widely used. Seasonings in Lithuanian cuisine may include dill, garlic, bayleaf and juniper. 

Due to the prevalence of woodland, berries and mushrooms figure prominently in Lithuanian recipes.   These are usually picked from the wild and are rarely bought in shops. Baravykas is a popular varietal of mushroom and is often dried for use in seasoning soups and sauces.    Bilberries and cranberries are valued and are made into jams which are often used to accompany pancakes (blynai.)  Sometimes red bilberry jam is used to dress fried chicken or turkey.

Pork, followed by beef, is the most frequently used meat, often grilled or covered in breadcrumbs and fried.  Smoked pork products such as sausages are readily available.  Areas closer to the Baltic have a tradition for smoking fish such as eel or bream.

For pudding, cakes often containing apple or plum are served and ice-cream (ledai) is popular in the summer.
Beer (alus) has had something of a renaissance recently and several Lithuanian brews have won international awards.  Degtine, a type of vodka is produced in varying strengths and is made from rye, potatoes or wheat.  Coffee houses are abundant although tea is also drunk in Lithuania.

Since the end of the Soviet occupation in 1990, the preparation and consumption of traditional Lithuanian cuisine has come to symbolise the county’s independence.

Filed Under: Lithuania, Lithuania Culture Tagged With: , ,
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