Lithuanians

Lithuanians are a Baltic ethnic group, associated with Lithuania and the Lithuanian language. Most of them live in Lithuania - nearly 3 million according to the 2001 census. About another million make up the Lithuanian diaspora. They are Balts, not Slavic or Germanic, but have been influenced by these peoples in the past. Most Lithuanians belong to the Roman Catholic Church, with significant minorities of Protestants and members of the Eastern Orthodox church. Prior to the Second World War, Lithuania had very large Jewish community. Lithuanians are Caucosoid, the Lithuanian language is part of the Indo-European linguistic family.

History

The territory of the Balts, including modern Lithuania, was once occupied by several Baltic tribal entities (Sudovians, Lamatians, Curonians, Sellonians, 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 Russian tribesmen. 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) nation of Lithuanian speakers shrank. Subsequent imperial Russian occupation accelerated this process due to process of russification (ban on public speaking and writing in Lithuanian, 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 Belarussian-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. During and after World War II Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. Long-standing communities of Lithuanians in the Kaliningrad Oblast ("Lithuania Minor") and in the Belarussian SSR were almost destroyed as a result.

A 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 emmigrants. Some of indigenous Lithuanians still remains in Belarus and Kaliningrad Oblast, but the numbers are small compared to what they used to be. Lithuania regained independence in 1990 and was generally recognised de facto in 1991. It became a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. While otherwise positively regarded, some people see it as a threat to the nation once again, due to the continuing emigration of Lithuanians, immigration of outsiders, and influence of English together with an invasion of western culture.

Traditions

The Lithuanian national sport is usually considered to be basketball, which is popular among Lithuanians in Lithuania and as well as the emmigrant communities. Basketball came to Lithuania through the community of Lithuanian Americans in the start of the 20th century.

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

Joninės (also known as Rasos) is a traditional national holiday, celebrated on the summer solistice. It has pagan origins. The užgavėnės holiday occurs around Easter, and is meant to help the winter go away. Also there are national traditions for Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas.

Divisions

The Lithuanian nation is 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 greedy while Samogitians are stubborn.

Genetics

Genetically Lithuanians are one of tallest peoples in the world. Height acceleration was fast through the 20th century although now it has slowed down. One eighth of Lithuanians are immune to HIV which is also one of the highest percentages of immunity in the world.

Lithuanians are sometimes considered to be Northern whites and sometimes Middle whites. Although blondes, especially blonde girls, tend to be talked about much in the Lithuanian folklore, the actual pecentage of them is low and is on the decline.

Genetic divisions between the different Lithuanian groups were more pronounced earlier--in the 19th and early 20th centuries for example. However, an increasing number of marriages between the varying subgroups has severely reduced these genetic distinctions. The genetic distinction of Lithuanians as a nation might be threatened due to the increasing rate of marriage with outsiders, the number of which increased during the Soviet occupation, and increases still more due to immigration and integration into the European Union.

See also

• Lithuania
• Baltic states
• List of Lithuanians