LITHUANIANS
LITHUANIANS
are a small ethnic group on the territory of the modern Republic of Belarus (about 5000 people).
Lithuanian national traits:
• restraint;
• persistence in work;
• frugality;
• loyalty to the given word;
• love for truth and freedom;
• hospitality, etc.
The "Lithuanian land" is located in the Ostrovets and Voronovsky districts of the Grodno region and is a kind of ethnic region, which includes 14-15 Lithuanian villages remaining here. Multilingualism and multiculturalism have become the hallmark of this region. The largest Lithuanian villages in this region are Gerviaty, Rymdyuny, Giri and others.
THE NATIONAL COSTUME
The character of Lithuanians, ethnic and historical roots, traditions of musical and dance orientation, occupation and occupation - all this is reflected in the Lithuanian folk costume.
Linen and wool were the basic materials for creating Lithuanian folk costumes. The products were decorated with national ornaments, mostly geometric - the most popular were the cage, crosses and stripes. Red and green, orange and blue, yellow and purple, as well as black and white were the main colors of the Lithuanian folk costume.
Traditional Lithuanian women's clothing consisted of a long-sleeved white blouse, a long, wide and bright skirt and an apron. Homespun gray, brown, sometimes white woolen sermyags and sheepskin coats served as the upper winter women's clothing. An obligatory part of traditional women's outerwear was a large blanket thrown over the shoulders. Girls decorated their heads with wreaths or crowns with ribbons. Married women wore white linen headscarves. Women of all ages in Lithuania loved to wear amber jewelry: beads, earrings, bracelets. Men's fashion was much simpler: a gray coat of rough, heavy fabric, light linen shirts, striped or checked pants. They were girded with wide colored ribbons (belts). In winter they wore various fur hats, in summer - straw hats and purchased round caps with visors. Everyday shoes were bast bast shoes, leather posts and wooden shoes.
NATIONAL CUISINE
Lithuanian cuisine is often called "forest": it actively uses game dishes, honey and berries.
Lithuanian cuisine is characterized by the following typical features: simple recipe (few food combinations); an abundance of starchy foods (potato, flour and cereals); the widespread use of meat dishes (mainly pork); active use of dairy dishes, especially sour cream and cheeses; restrained use of spices in cooking (the most popular among spices are cumin and marjoram).
The peculiarity of Lithuanian cuisine is the variety of recipes for the first courses - from hot to sweet soups and cold borscht. On the table are served traditional Lithuanian mushroom borsch with "ears", tomato soup with rice, cabbage soup with smoked meat, жemait beer soup, cold kefir borscht.
For the second, they usually eat a variety of potato dishes - a favorite product of Lithuanians: buderay (potato sausages), zemaichiu pancakes (potato pancakes with minced meat), Švilpikai (baked potato sticks with sauce), ploksteinis (potato pudding) and many others. Meat zrazy, various pork dishes (kumpis - pork hams, various meat rolls), goose are popular; beef and lamb are used much less frequently. Lithuanian fish dishes are mainly stewed or baked. The country's famous seaside delicacy is smoked eel.
Among the flour dishes are dumplings, dumplings (sorcerer), pancakes with various fillings. Compared to potato dishes, porridge is less popular in Lithuania. The traditional dish, shupinis, is most often prepared from porridge. Popular drinks in the country are kvass, various herbal teas, "caraway water" - a decoction of caraway seeds. Lithuanians are big fans of strong natural coffee.
NATIONAL DANCE
Traditional Lithuanian dances originated in the peasant environment, and although the dance steps have changed over time, the unique charm has survived to this day. Lithuanian dance is not aggressive, soft, always based on the daily life of the people - growing crops, harvesting crops, caring for livestock, feasting, relationships between men and women.
The content of Lithuanian folk dances and round dances is varied. They depict labor processes: "Scold" ("Rye"), "Linyalis" ("Lenok"), "Dobilelis" ("Clover"), "Kalvelis" ("Blacksmith"), "Schiauchukas" ("Shoemaker"), Malunelis (Mill). They express sympathy for a hardworking person, ridiculed lazy people and parasites, for example, in the round dances "Katre", "Tinginelis" ("Lazy"). In dances and round dances, family life and relations of young people are widely reflected, faithful love is poeticized. Ancient dances and round dances vividly reveal the bride's feelings, her touching parting with girlhood, her fear of a hard life in someone else's house: "Sadute", "Vainikelis" ("Wenochek"). Dances and round dances, depicting animals and birds, skillfully imitate their habits, character: "Blezdingele" ("Swallow"), "Gaidis" ("Rooster"), "Ozhalis" ("Goat"), "Dzhigunas" ("Trotter" ). Folk dances and round dances are accompanied by songs or instrumental music. Song accompaniment is most typical for round dances (especially of the "rateliai" type).
NATIONAL TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
Lithuanian customs and related rituals were formed in the days of paganism. Over the years, their form and meaning have changed, and with the coming into force of Christianity, they have united and new ones have emerged.
Traditions and customs of holding calendar holidays are closely related to seasonal changes and agricultural work. Some of these traditions have passed into Christian holidays. Living in the rhythm of nature, the inhabitants of Lithuania have long felt the constantly repeating change of vitality. Alternating changes in nature and flora form the basis of old Lithuanian traditions. Similar critical stages occur in people's lives. The main events in people's lives: birth - christening - wedding - death - funeral, had their own ceremonies and rituals associated with calendar holidays. Some of them are still alive today.
Of the working customs, from ancient times, the most common cleaning and rafter festival. Today, as before, in Lithuanian villages neighbors help each other in the midst of agricultural work - during haymaking, harvesting potatoes, during the slaughter of livestock. After the jointly completed work, all assistants are invited to the dinner table - the completion of the work is celebrated. Folk traditions show a strong connection between Lithuanians and their home. This is a type of culture that has been formed in the homeland for a thousand years.
WE INVITE ALL WHO WISHES
TO TAKE PART IN THE QUIZ