Our beautiful landOur beautiful land

LITHUANIALITHUANIA

Lithuania (Lietuva), officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the largest of the three Baltic States.

It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic sea, to the east of Sweden and Denmark.

It borders Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south, and Kaliningrad Region (a Russian exclave) to the southwest.

Lithuania has an estimated population of 3 million as of 2012

The official language, Lithuanian, is one of only two living languages (together with Latvian) in the Baltic branch of the Indo - Europian language family.

Lithuanians should not be grouped Lithuanians should not be grouped among the dynamic or particularly among the dynamic or particularly expressive nations. Traditionally, expressive nations. Traditionally, they are reserved, calm, modest they are reserved, calm, modest proud people. Lithuanians are proud people. Lithuanians are hard working and devoted to their hard working and devoted to their families. Hospitality is another families. Hospitality is another characteristic feature of our characteristic feature of our nation.nation.

Hard working

Love for family

•There are There are four regions four regions in Lithuaniain Lithuania•Aukštaitija Aukštaitija (highlands)(highlands)•Žemaitija Žemaitija (lowlands)(lowlands)•DzūkijaDzūkija•SuvalkijaSuvalkija

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National celebrations

All Souls’ Day

All All Souls' DaySouls' Day

All Souls' Day is on 2nd of November and follows All Saints' Day. People visit the graves of their relatives, who passed away.

People light candles...People light candles...

Bring flowers...

And pray.And pray.

In winter we celebrate In winter we celebrate Christmas EveChristmas Eve

OnOn Christmas Eve streets in Lithuania... Christmas Eve streets in Lithuania...

llookook like this.like this.

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the day is the day that, that, according to according to modern modern calendars, calendars, contains the contains the first evening, first evening, of Christmas, of Christmas, a widely a widely celebrated celebrated festival festival commemoraticommemorating the birth of ng the birth of Jesus of Jesus of Nazareth. Nazareth.

In some parts In some parts of Central and of Central and Eastern Eastern EuropEuropeesuch as such as Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Poland and Poland and Lithuania, Lithuania, twelve twelve traditional traditional meatless meatless dishes dishes are are served served during during Christmas EveChristmas Eve suppersupper

And this is And this is the most the most popular drink popular drink on on Christmas Christmas Eve Eve table.table.

Made from cranberries.

On Christmas Eve, people give each other presents andOn Christmas Eve, people give each other presents andwish all the best…wish all the best…

One of the One of the most most famous famous festivals in festivals in Lithuania isLithuania is Kaziukas

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POTTERY…POTTERY…

Baskets…Baskets…

PalmPalms…s…

HONEY HONEY COOKIECOOKIES…S…

Candies…

Let’s say Let’s say goodbye to our goodbye to our spring spring celebration. celebration.

What’s What’s next?next?

It’s SUMMER

It’s SUMMER

time!time!And it means that our next CELEBRATION is

Saint John’s Festival (Eng.)

St. John's Day is a St. John's Day is a midsummer folk midsummer folk festival celebrated on festival celebrated on June 24th all around June 24th all around Lithuania.Lithuania.

The traditions include The traditions include : singing songs ,: singing songs ,The traditions include: The traditions include: singing songs,singing songs,

dancing until the dancing until the sun sets,sun sets,

trying to find the magic fern blossom at midnight,trying to find the magic fern blossom at midnight,

jumping over jumping over bonfiresbonfires,,

floating floating flower flower wreaths in wreaths in the water of the water of rivers or rivers or lakes.lakes.