1. Lithuania – a place to spend a good time
Lithuania has very colorful history. Here anywhere you look, you see ancient castles, high mounds and
beautiful churches. But in Lithuania you can spend a good time too.
St John's Eve, 23 June
In Lithuania the festival is known as 'Joninės' or 'Rasos' . The traditions include singing songs and dancing
until the sun sets, telling tales, searching to find the magic fern blossom at midnight, jumping over bonfires,
greeting the rising midsummer sun and washing the face with a morning dew, young girls float flower
wreaths on the water of river or lake.
Užgavėnės, between February 5 and March 6.
Užgavėnės is a Lithuanian festival that takes place during the seventh week before Easter (Ash
Wednesday). A major element of the holiday, meant to symbolize the defeat of winter in the Northern
Hemisphere, is a staged battle between Lašininis ("porky") personifying winter and Kanapinis ("hempen
man") personifying spring. Devils, witches, goats, the grim reaper, gypsies, and other joyful and frightening
characters appear in costumes during the celebrations
FACTFILE
Area: 25,212 sq mi
Population: 2,955,986 approx.
Capital: Vilnius
Political: Lithuania has its own parliament, legal system, education system and is independent.
History: The history of Lithuania dates back to at least 1009, the first recorded written use of the term.
Lithuanians, a branch of the Baltic people, later conquered neighboring lands, establishing the Grand Duchy
of Lithuania and in the 13th century the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania. In 1795, the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania was erased from the political map with the Partitions of the Commonwealth. Afterwards the
Lithuanians lived under the rule of the Russian Empire until the 20th century.
Christmas Eve, 24 December
Christmas Eve is the evening or day before Christmas Day, the widely celebrated annual holiday. It occurs
on December 24 in Western Christianity, and is considered one of the most culturally significant
celebrations in Christendom and the Western world, where it is widely observed as a full or partial holiday
in anticipation of Christmas Day. In Lithuania, a traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve Supper is
served on Christmas Eve before opening gifts.
Antanas Smetona
Was one of the most important Lithuanian political figures between World War I and World War II. He
served as the first President of Lithuania from April 4, 1919 to June 19, 1920.