Updated 01.01.07

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Miscellaneous Information

Symbolics

Symbols are important to a people who have been denied free speech for so long. One of the things suppressed during the Soviet occupation was the country’s, to say the least, tumultuous history. Other things that were suppressed were all the symbols, not only the Christian ones. Lithuania evolved a lot during pre-Christian times, such as the founding of the largest cities. Thus, lots of heathen symbols are still in use today.

One of the most important symbols is The Iron Wolf (Gelezinis vilkas), above. I happened to find this metal wolf at Kernave, the location of Lithuania’s first royal castle, built by king Mindaugas. Well, it didn’t look exactly like this. Just imagine what a little Photoshop can do. Legend has it that Grand Duke Gediminas was out hunting in the forest, and in the night he dreamt about a wolf, standing, howling on top of a hill. The wolf was made of iron. He asked his interpreter of dreams about the it, who explained to him that the wolf meant he must build a city. It being made of iron, meant that the city must be strongly fortified. Gediminas liked the idea and built Vilnius around he hill on which the ruins of the third castle, “the high castle” still stand. The only part that is more or less intact, and visible from street-level, is Gediminas’ Tower, an octagonal tower having three (originally four) stories.

Below is a concentrate of all the important symbols you might encounter in Lithuania.

Three plaques, actually enlargements of three medals issued at the 650:th anniversary of the City of Vilnius in 1973. You were out of luck if you had these, and the KGB found you out.

The Gediminas Plaque
The plaque depicts Grand Duke Gediminas holding a sword. Around the plaque you read D.L.K. GEDIMINAS VILNIAUS IKUREJAS (Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, founder of Vilnius). On Gediminas’ chest is the Gedimino stulpai. To the left of Gediminas is the Vytis symbol. To the right is the year of Vilnius’ foundation: 1323.

The Vilnius Plaque
In the middle is the three-floor Gediminas Tower, with the third floor symbolised by the number 650, the city’s age. In front of the tower is some sort of sorcerer. To the left is a fire symbolising the pagan fire-cult, displaying the text AB. CONDITA (lat. Anno ab urbe condita) meaning “years after the city’s foundation“ i.e., the city’s age, 1323-1973 visible around the plaque. At the top of the tower is the Iron Wolf, and behind him a flagpole with a flag displaying the Gedimino stulpai.

The Vytautas Plaque
In the middle is king Vytautas, with a royal crown to symbolise his royal power. Around him rages the battle of Zalgris (Grünewald) where he finally finished off the crusaders. Around the plaque you read VYTAUTAS DIDYSIS (Vytautas the Great), and the years 1430-1930, symbolising the 500:th anniversary of his death.
King Vytautas turned the country into a superpower, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea (facts that the Soviets rather would have erased). He can also pride himself of having christened the country, if only to finally get rid of the attacking crusaders. He never entered into any covenant with them. Of course, no one knows what Vytautas actually looked like. Maybe he looked like this. Maybe he looked like on painting 001 at the Lithuanian Fine Arts Museum.

The Vytis Sign, the State Emblem
Vytis, the pursuer, a white knight riding leftwards is one of Europe’s oldest coat of arms. The sign was originally found on an old coin. You can find Vytis more or less anywhere, but one of the most prominent places is on the roof of the presidential palace, and on the outside of the old city gate Ausros Vartai in Vilnius.

Symbolics: The Lithuanian flag
The flag, ratified on September 1, 2004, with the proportions 3:5. The yellow field is the sun shining over Lithuania. The green is for Lithuania’s green pastures, and the red is for the blood spilled for the country.

Symbolics: Gediminas’ poles
Gedimino stulpai (Gediminas’ poles). The symbol of Lithuania, believed to have been used since the early 14:th century.

National Anthem and other Hymns

Tautiska Giesme

National Anthem

  Lietuva, Tevyne musu,
  Tu didvyriu zeme,
  Is praeities Tavo sunus
  Te stiprybe semia.

  Tegul Tavo vaikai eina
  Vien takais dorybes,
  Tegul dirba Tavo naudai
  Ir zmoniu gerybei.

  Tegul saule Lietuvoj
  Tamsumas prasalina,
  Ir sviesa, ir tiesa
  Mus zingsnius telydi.

  Tegul meile Lietuvos
  Dega musu zirdyse,
  Vardan tos Lietuvos
  Vienybe tezydi!   Lithuania, our homeland,
  Land of worshiped heroes!
  Let your sons draw their strength
  From our past experience.

  Let your children always follow
  Only roads of virtue,
  May your own, mankind’s well-being
  Be the goals they work for.

  May the sun above our land
  Banish darkening clouds around
  Light and truth all along
  Guide our steps forever.

  May the love of Lithuania
  Brightly burn in our hearts.
  For the sake this land
  Let unity blossom!

The song was written in 1898 by Dr. Vincas Kudirka, presented officially in 1905 and became the official anthem in 1919, during Lithuania’s first period of independence. It was of course banned during the Soviet time, which is why it is sung with such gusto and nationalistic warmth today. Swedish TV stations play the national anthem because it’s trendy, but when 10,000 people sing the ”Lietuva, tevyne musu” together, on the last day of the Song Festival, from the very bottom of their hearts, it is a tribute to the country everyone has fought for, and in many cases given their lives for.

The other “great“ song is the Lietuva brangi (Our Dear Lithuania). When everyone take each other’s hands and sing in unison, it is somewhat like the Swedish Royal Anthem (Kungssången). It was originally a poem written by the immortal Maironis. The words are beautiful, about the beloved fatherland, where heroes sleep in their olden graves, a land which has seen so much suffering, but whose skies remain the most beautiful blue. He speaks about the splendid valley of the rapid Dubysa, about forested hills as green as rue (national plant), and about the maidens who sing the fine Lithuanian folk songs. He speaks about the dark Nevezys, which winds around green fields like a ceremonial sash - its channel engraved by its continual choppy waves. He talks about the country's old estates, peaceful nights, the many old churches, and the pleasures of meeting socially after Mass, after the congregation joined in singing the favorite hymn “Pulkim ant keliu” (Let us fall on our knees). The last paragraph says, “You are beautiful, my dearest fatherland, where heroes sleep. Not for nothing did the Bociai defend you; not for nothing did poets praise you.”

Maironis wrote this poem in 1920, and it was set to music by one of Lithuania's classic composers, Juozas Naujalis. The song became a big favorite amongst the people, and has remained so, almost taking on the aspect of a hymn, especially during the Soviet occupation. During the occupation, Lithuanians were forbidden to sing their real national anthem (above), so they happily sang Lietuva brangi instead. The Soviets thought it was just a pretty song about the natural beauty of the country, and didn't realize the emotional hold the song had on the people. Lithuanians thought of it as a replacement national anthem.

In 1950, the Soviet Lithuanian anthem was written, music by Balys Dvarionas and Jonas Švedas (svedas = Swedish), and words by Antanas Venclova. After Stalin died, Vacys Reimeris re-worded part of it, to remove mention of Stalin. That didn't make it any less ugly. When people were forced to sing it, they did so with contempt for the song and for those who wrote it.

Do’s and Don’ts

When you travel to Lithuania there are a few things to look out for, to make your visit perfect.

You should:

Bring presents to your hosts: Presents are much more important in Lithuania than in, for example, Sweden. They don’t beat about the bush regarding alcoholic presents, like we do.
Eat Lithuanian food and forget the foreign.
Drink Lithuanian beer and champagne.
Respect the holy services in churches and refrain from using flash. Church pictures taken with flash come out bad, anyway.
Watch those beggars around the churches. They are very clever and may become aggressive at times, so much so that the mayor of Vilnius has given them a flick on the nose and is aiming to have them removed. Watch out for those pretending “to be without parents“. They know all the tricks.

You should not:

Offer black or salty goodies. Although we may like salty liquorice, it is not regarded as a nice present.
Base your holiday on eating out in the Old Town or city centres only. You will soon go broke.
Ask to buy pirated CD’s. It is a sensitive issue. But by all means, go to the market and buy for yourself.
If you’re buying pirated stuff, do not attempt to make pictures.
Wave an expensive camera around at the market. You will soon loose it.
Bribe a customs officer, even if asked. It is revolting. Show that you would rather wait around, than go along with a bribe.
Pee on the presidential palace. The place is full of CCTV cameras, and also, it is contemptuous to the Lithuanian State. Two British “secret agents“ on a mission in Lithuania tried that, after an evening of drinking. It was shown on national TV the next day. Man, did they loose their jobs fast.
Force, or even ask a Lithuanian if he wants to join you at the KGB Museum. After being terrorised and watched by an occupant for 50 years, it is the last place they want to visit. They hate the idea. But should you yourself long for the screams of tortured prisoners, please go there and get a touch of everyday life during Communism.
Make jokes about Communism, however well-meant.
Go in your own car to Kaliningrad. You need a visa and car-permit, but the mob also wants some money for not smashing up the car in the night. Travel in a group or bring a paid body guard/guide.

Recommendations to Those Concerned

Unfortunately, everything is not sunshine in Lithuania, although this probably goes for most countries. Here are a few things that Lithuania should discontinue to fully succeed in the tourist trade:

Photo fees in the museums, and the sour ladies there.
The same sour ladies in the Russian Orthodox churches preventing you from making pictures.
Old, Soviet, stinking toilets of the hole-in-the-floor variety in public places.
All those damned car alarms howling all the time, which no one seems to care about. I.e. get a policy on noise. The car alarm makers seems to compete about who's making the most horrible answer tones.
Russian wall outlets too narrow for European earthed connectors.
Nature-cure medicine fraud and strange “medical lamps” (especially Swiss bioptronic rayguns) that will cure all ills, from cough to cancer. And levitation institutes.

Useful Phrases

My hovercraft is full of eels = Mano laivas ant oro pagalves pilnas unguriu

There will be more general information as soon as I can find it.

Path: Starting Page > Galleries > Lithuania > Miscellany

Symbolics
Symbols are important to a people who have been denied free speech for so long. One of the things suppressed during the Soviet occupation was the country’s, to say the least, tumultuous history. Other things that were suppressed were all the symbols, not only the Christian ones. Lithuania evolved a lot during pre-Christian times, such as the founding of the largest cities. Thus, lots of heathen symbols are still in use today. One of the most important symbols is The Iron Wolf (Gelezinis vilkas), above. I happened to find this metal wolf at Kernave, the location of Lithuania’s first royal castle, built by king Mindaugas. Well, it didn’t look exactly like this. Just imagine what a little Photoshop can do. Legend has it that Grand Duke Gediminas was out hunting in the forest, and in the night he dreamt about a wolf, standing, howling on top of a hill. The wolf was made of iron. He asked his interpreter of dreams about the it, who explained to him that the wolf meant he must build a city. It being made of iron, meant that the city must be strongly fortified. Gediminas liked the idea and built Vilnius around he hill on which the ruins of the third castle, “the high castle” still stand. The only part that is more or less intact, and visible from street-level, is Gediminas’ Tower, an octagonal tower having three (originally four) stories. Below is a concentrate of all the important symbols you might encounter in Lithuania.
	Three plaques, actually enlargements of three medals issued at the 650:th anniversary of the City of Vilnius in 1973. You were out of luck if you had these, and the KGB found you out. The Gediminas Plaque The plaque depicts Grand Duke Gediminas holding a sword. Around the plaque you read D.L.K. GEDIMINAS VILNIAUS IKUREJAS (Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, founder of Vilnius). On Gediminas’ chest is the Gedimino stulpai. To the left of Gediminas is the Vytis symbol. To the right is the year of Vilnius’ foundation: 1323.
	The Vilnius Plaque In the middle is the three-floor Gediminas Tower, with the third floor symbolised by the number 650, the city’s age. In front of the tower is some sort of sorcerer. To the left is a fire symbolising the pagan fire-cult, displaying the text AB. CONDITA (lat. Anno ab urbe condita) meaning “years after the city’s foundation“ i.e., the city’s age, 1323-1973 visible around the plaque. At the top of the tower is the Iron Wolf, and behind him a flagpole with a flag displaying the Gedimino stulpai.
	The Vytautas Plaque In the middle is king Vytautas, with a royal crown to symbolise his royal power. Around him rages the battle of Zalgris (Grünewald) where he finally finished off the crusaders. Around the plaque you read VYTAUTAS DIDYSIS (Vytautas the Great), and the years 1430-1930, symbolising the 500:th anniversary of his death. King Vytautas turned the country into a superpower, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea (facts that the Soviets rather would have erased). He can also pride himself of having christened the country, if only to finally get rid of the attacking crusaders. He never entered into any covenant with them. Of course, no one knows what Vytautas actually looked like. Maybe he looked like this. Maybe he looked like on painting 001 at the Lithuanian Fine Arts Museum.
	The Vytis Sign, the State Emblem Vytis, the pursuer, a white knight riding leftwards is one of Europe’s oldest coat of arms. The sign was originally found on an old coin. You can find Vytis more or less anywhere, but one of the most prominent places is on the roof of the presidential palace, and on the outside of the old city gate Ausros Vartai in Vilnius.
	The flag, ratified on September 1, 2004, with the proportions 3:5. The yellow field is the sun shining over Lithuania. The green is for Lithuania’s green pastures, and the red is for the blood spilled for the country.
	Gedimino stulpai (Gediminas’ poles). The symbol of Lithuania, believed to have been used since the early 14:th century.

National Anthem and other Hymns
	Tautiska Giesme	National Anthem
	Lietuva, Tevyne musu, Tu didvyriu zeme, Is praeities Tavo sunus Te stiprybe semia. Tegul Tavo vaikai eina Vien takais dorybes, Tegul dirba Tavo naudai Ir zmoniu gerybei. Tegul saule Lietuvoj Tamsumas prasalina, Ir sviesa, ir tiesa Mus zingsnius telydi. Tegul meile Lietuvos Dega musu zirdyse, Vardan tos Lietuvos Vienybe tezydi!	Lithuania, our homeland, Land of worshiped heroes! Let your sons draw their strength From our past experience. Let your children always follow Only roads of virtue, May your own, mankind’s well-being Be the goals they work for. May the sun above our land Banish darkening clouds around Light and truth all along Guide our steps forever. May the love of Lithuania Brightly burn in our hearts. For the sake this land Let unity blossom!
The song was written in 1898 by Dr. Vincas Kudirka, presented officially in 1905 and became the official anthem in 1919, during Lithuania’s first period of independence. It was of course banned during the Soviet time, which is why it is sung with such gusto and nationalistic warmth today. Swedish TV stations play the national anthem because it’s trendy, but when 10,000 people sing the ”Lietuva, tevyne musu” together, on the last day of the Song Festival, from the very bottom of their hearts, it is a tribute to the country everyone has fought for, and in many cases given their lives for.
The other “great“ song is the Lietuva brangi (Our Dear Lithuania). When everyone take each other’s hands and sing in unison, it is somewhat like the Swedish Royal Anthem (Kungssången). It was originally a poem written by the immortal Maironis. The words are beautiful, about the beloved fatherland, where heroes sleep in their olden graves, a land which has seen so much suffering, but whose skies remain the most beautiful blue. He speaks about the splendid valley of the rapid Dubysa, about forested hills as green as rue (national plant), and about the maidens who sing the fine Lithuanian folk songs. He speaks about the dark Nevezys, which winds around green fields like a ceremonial sash - its channel engraved by its continual choppy waves. He talks about the country's old estates, peaceful nights, the many old churches, and the pleasures of meeting socially after Mass, after the congregation joined in singing the favorite hymn “Pulkim ant keliu” (Let us fall on our knees). The last paragraph says, “You are beautiful, my dearest fatherland, where heroes sleep. Not for nothing did the Bociai defend you; not for nothing did poets praise you.” Maironis wrote this poem in 1920, and it was set to music by one of Lithuania's classic composers, Juozas Naujalis. The song became a big favorite amongst the people, and has remained so, almost taking on the aspect of a hymn, especially during the Soviet occupation. During the occupation, Lithuanians were forbidden to sing their real national anthem (above), so they happily sang Lietuva brangi instead. The Soviets thought it was just a pretty song about the natural beauty of the country, and didn't realize the emotional hold the song had on the people. Lithuanians thought of it as a replacement national anthem. In 1950, the Soviet Lithuanian anthem was written, music by Balys Dvarionas and Jonas Švedas (svedas = Swedish), and words by Antanas Venclova. After Stalin died, Vacys Reimeris re-worded part of it, to remove mention of Stalin. That didn't make it any less ugly. When people were forced to sing it, they did so with contempt for the song and for those who wrote it.