Laba diena! Welcome to our homeland of Lithuania, greeted in one of the oldest spoken languages in the world. This language preserves a very ancient vocabulary and has similarities to Sanskrit. With around 3.2 million native speakers, Lithuanian is the most widely spoken language in the Baltic language family.
Lithuania is a beautiful country located on the Baltic Sea, at the geographical center of Europe, bordering Latvia, Poland, Belarus, and the Kaliningrad region. It is rich in forests, covering 34% of its land area, and boasts over 30,000 rivers and streams, as well as more than 6,000 lakes. With its expansive natural and cultural landscapes, Lithuania offers a wealth of opportunities for nature and culture enthusiasts.
Lithuania is an open and welcoming country. Although it lacks natural resources, the extraordinary hospitality of its people defines its wealth. Lithuanians are a musical nation, often referred to as the land of songs since ancient times. The most recent struggle for independence was known as the "Singing Revolution," during which over two million people from the Baltic states demonstrated for their independence while singing ancient, forbidden folk songs. One of the most significant musical events is the "Dainu svente," a song and dance festival celebrated every four years. It was first organized in 1924 in Kaunas and recognized by UNESCO in 2003 as a masterpiece of the oral heritage of humanity.
Lithuania is also a modern country with a long academic tradition, home to one of the oldest universities in Central Europe and offering over 350 English-language study programs. Lithuania is considered a model in digitalization and a recognized leader in the development of cloud technologies, e-government systems, e-health, and e-business. It is fair to say that Lithuania ranks among the countries with the fastest public Wi-Fi networks.
Basketball has become the country’s second religion after Catholicism, with notable figures such as basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis, swimmer Ruta Meilutyte, discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna, rally driver Benediktas Vanagas, and tennis player Ricardas Berankis putting Lithuania on the global sports map.
National traditions and culinary heritage are essential components of Lithuanian life. Lithuanian cuisine is hearty and rustic, featuring dishes rich in fish, meat, and potatoes. Don’t miss trying "Zeppelinai" – boiled potato dumplings filled with minced meat in a savory cream sauce with bacon and onions. For a lighter option, sample the cold beetroot soup. Other recommendations include caraway-scented bread, smoked ham, and the traditional "Baumkuchen" baked to a grandmother’s recipe. You can also taste Lithuania's natural honey, known for its summer fragrance, as bees have long been regarded as sacred in the country.
The Baltic Sea is truly a treasure for Lithuania, not only for the amber that you can sometimes find on its white beaches but also for the nearly 100 km long Curonian Spit, often called the "Lithuanian Sahara." The coastal state of Lithuania, especially the port city of Klaipeda, is famous for the legendary Sea Festival "Juros svente," featuring sailing events, street theater, exhibitions, and an authentic artisan market that attracts visitors from around the globe.
Traditionally, Lithuania is divided into four historical and cultural regions, known as ethnographic regions:
A fifth region, known as Mazoji Lietuva (Little Lithuania) or Prussian Lithuania, is considered part of Lower Lithuania and includes the far western strip of the country.
These regions are not official administrative units but are defined by cultural characteristics such as local traditions, ways of life, songs, and stories. They also partially correspond to areas of Lithuanian dialects. Anthropological differences have led to variations in language and thought, and even today, jokes are told about different regions: the agricultural and prosperous region of Suvalkija is seen as frugal and reliable, while Dzukija is characterized as cheerful and especially hospitable. Upper Lithuanians are often considered calm, while Lower Lithuanians are known for their persistence.
Listen to the waves of the sea on the beach, feel the fine sand softly slipping between your toes… Join us on a journey through Lithuania!
