THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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Archive for October, 2011
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NOW IN CHICAGO!
National Lithuanian
American Hall of Fame
Bringing attention to Lithuania’s epic history and the global contributions of its people today in the arts, sciences, sports, politics, and economics.
Football greats Dick Butkus and Johnny Unitas, film director Robert Zemeckis, screen stars Charles Bronson, Ann Jillian, and Ruta Lee, musicians Benny Goodman and Bob Dylan, author J.D. Salinger, and Senator Dick Durbin are but a few famous individuals with roots in a nation that was once the largest and amongst the most powerful in Europe, Lithuania. Their achievements will now be commemorated by The National Lithuanian-American Hall of Fame (NLAHF).
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NOW IN CHICAGO!
National Lithuanian
American Hall of Fame
Bringing attention to Lithuania’s epic history and the global contributions of its people today in the arts, sciences, sports, politics, and economics.
Football greats Dick Butkus and Johnny Unitas, film director Robert Zemeckis, screen stars Charles Bronson, Ann Jillian, and Ruta Lee, musicians Benny Goodman and Bob Dylan, author J.D. Salinger, and Senator Dick Durbin are but a few famous individuals with roots in a nation that was once the largest and amongst the most powerful in Europe, Lithuania. Their achievements will now be commemorated by The National Lithuanian-American Hall of Fame (NLAHF).
Lithuanians and their history have been living in relative anonymity among the American public, as Lithuania’s voice on the world stage was silenced during a half-century of Soviet Occupation. With independence restored, Lithuania has reasserted its place in the advancement of world culture – a feat recognized by the designation of its capital, Vilnius, as the “Cultural Capital of Europe” in 2009.
With a governing Board composed of members from various ethnic and racial communities, the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame is a non profit organization with a primary objective of acquainting the American public with Lithuanians, their epic history and unique culture. The NLAHF now takes this opportunity to publicize Lithuania’s history and its people’s global contributions in the arts, sciences, sports, politics, and economics.
The National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame’s “Achieving Relevance” campaign includes educational initiatives in American and Lithuanian communities. For more information on how you can support these worthwhile efforts, contact Jon Platakis at: jon@lithhof.org .
Jon Platakis.
NLAHF has also it own Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Lithuanian-American-Hall-of-Fame/141366249270713
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Was Columbus
a Lithuanian prince?
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SON? |
FATHER? |
Historian unmasks Columbus’ true identity.
Will Lithuanians be able to add another page to their already epic history? Will the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame (NLAHF) have yet one more candidate for induction? Daine Jablonskyte-Marquez and Jon Platakis, members of the NLAHF, tracked down historian Manuel Rosa at his job at Duke University, to enlighten us on his 20 plus years of research into the identity of Christopher Columbus.
Confidently, and with primary source documents to verify his assertions, Rosa states, “Columbus was a royal prince, son of a Portuguese noble lady and exiled King Wladyslaw III (a direct descendent of one of Europe’s greatest ruling dynasties, Lithuania’s Gedeminian dynasty). He was hiding his identity from the public at large but the courts of Europe knew who he was.” Pointing to documentation in his new book, COLON. La Historia Nunca Contada (COLUMBUS. The Untold Story) recently published in Spain, and to be published May 2012 in Poland, that Columbus’ marriage in 1479 to a Portuguese noblewoman, who was a member of the Portuguese military order of Santiago, required the approval of the King of Portugal, a procedure reserved only for someone of major importance. “This new Portuguese document alone,” stated Rosa, “makes the entirety of Columbus’ Italian history false.” Rosa’s evidence appears irrefutable that Columbus, who had been housed in the palaces of the nobility, had access to royal courts, and married into nobility, could not be, as our history books tell us, the son of a poor weaver from Genoa.
So, who was Christopher Columbus, if not a poor weaver’s son from Genoa? Rosa believes that his true identity was Prince Segismundo Henriques which was concealed in order to protect his father. All of Rosa’s evidence points to Wladyslaw III, king of Poland and Lithuania as being the father of Christopher Columbus. Rosa suggests that there is proof the king survived the Battle of Varna in 1444 against the Ottomans and lived in exile on the island of Madeira under the name of “Henrique the German,” married to a Portuguese noblewoman.
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Was Columbus
a Lithuanian prince?
|
SON? |
FATHER? |
Historian unmasks Columbus’ true identity.
Will Lithuanians be able to add another page to their already epic history? Will the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame (NLAHF) have yet one more candidate for induction? Daine Jablonskyte-Marquez and Jon Platakis, members of the NLAHF, tracked down historian Manuel Rosa at his job at Duke University, to enlighten us on his 20 plus years of research into the identity of Christopher Columbus.
Confidently, and with primary source documents to verify his assertions, Rosa states, “Columbus was a royal prince, son of a Portuguese noble lady and exiled King Wladyslaw III (a direct descendent of one of Europe’s greatest ruling dynasties, Lithuania’s Gedeminian dynasty). He was hiding his identity from the public at large but the courts of Europe knew who he was.” Pointing to documentation in his new book, COLON. La Historia Nunca Contada (COLUMBUS. The Untold Story) recently published in Spain, and to be published May 2012 in Poland, that Columbus’ marriage in 1479 to a Portuguese noblewoman, who was a member of the Portuguese military order of Santiago, required the approval of the King of Portugal, a procedure reserved only for someone of major importance. “This new Portuguese document alone,” stated Rosa, “makes the entirety of Columbus’ Italian history false.” Rosa’s evidence appears irrefutable that Columbus, who had been housed in the palaces of the nobility, had access to royal courts, and married into nobility, could not be, as our history books tell us, the son of a poor weaver from Genoa.
So, who was Christopher Columbus, if not a poor weaver’s son from Genoa? Rosa believes that his true identity was Prince Segismundo Henriques which was concealed in order to protect his father. All of Rosa’s evidence points to Wladyslaw III, king of Poland and Lithuania as being the father of Christopher Columbus. Rosa suggests that there is proof the king survived the Battle of Varna in 1444 against the Ottomans and lived in exile on the island of Madeira under the name of “Henrique the German,” married to a Portuguese noblewoman.
Is this just another nutty conspiracy theory? Not according to leading historians based at the University of Lisbon, and St. Joseph’s University. Rosa utilized medieval documents and chronicles from multiple kingdoms to cross-reference historical events and personalities, plus ancient genealogy and heraldry. In addition, Rosa’s mastery of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, allowed him a more accurate interpretation of these primary source documents.
Members of the National Lithuanian American Hall of Fame, lament the fact that there seems to be little interest from American, and our own Lithuanian historians and researchers, to either accept or contradict Rosa’s findings. According to Rosa, he has not yet had any success in finding a U.S. publisher for this history altering book.
It appears a certainty that Christopher Columbus was not the poor weaver’s son from Genoa. However, in the near future, it is hoped that Polish authorities will open the tomb of King Wladyslaw II, (Jogaila) the Lithuanian King of Poland, to obtain DNA evidence to prove that Christopher Columbus is a son of Lithuania who hid his royal lineage to protect the secret that his father had survived the Battle of Varna.
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Lithuania offers a modern, international cuisine
fully on par with Western Europe.
Text: Aage Myhre
Did you think that this country only offers traditional food? Think again… Today’s situation is that numerous Lithuanian restaurants follow the best world traditions of offering exceptional international cuisine, as well as a number of Lithuanian masterpieces, first-class service in surroundings of refined elegance and impeccable hospitality. Modern Lithuania’s excellent cuisine together with a high class service will leave you a memorable experience.
Let me bring you to some of my favourite international cuisine restaurants, this time unfortunately only in Vilnius!
La Provence
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Address: |
Vokieciu st. 22, Vilnius, Tel. +3705 2620257 www.laprovence.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International/Mediterranean |
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Number of seats: |
80 |
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Number of halls: |
4 |
La Provence is good, and remains good year after year. You should try some of their juicy fish choices that include red mullet, monkfish and fresh, hot and smoked halibut. My favourite, however, has always been the lamb knuckles or roebuck filet with cherry sauce. La Provence also houses a most uncompromising wine list ...
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Balzac
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Address: |
Savičiaus street 7 Vilnius Tel. +370 614 89 223 www.balzac.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
French - International |
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Number of seats: |
60 |
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Number of halls: |
1 |
Balzac restaurant was in 2010 voted the best restaurant in Lithuania. This is the place to go for authentic French cuisine, French wines and top gastronomy as only the French can it... It’s located in the very heart of Vilnius, close to the Town Hall Square, Warm atmosphere with French music. The owner and main person behind both food and wines is Thomas Teiten, a very sympathetic guy from North Alsace. All genuine... A bientôt !
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Neringa
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Address: |
Gedimino av. 23 Vilnius, Tel. +3705 2614058 www.restoranasneringa.lt |
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Location: |
Centre |
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Cuisine: |
International |
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Number of seats: |
180 |
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Number of halls: |
3 |
This place gives you a feeling of going back to the ‘good old days in Lithuania’ - the interwar period. And when you are here, at least once you have to try their world famous Kiev Cutlet! The restaurant is unique by its unchangeable interior from the beginning about 40 years ago – and still this is the venue of elderly intellectuals, one-time famous artists, architects and actors. Retro music concerts at weekends. Jazz club in the cellar.
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Bistro 18
Restaurant & wine shop
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Address: |
Stikliu st. 18, Vilnius, Tel. +370 5 2660770, www.bistro18.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International |
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Number of seats: |
60 |
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Number of halls: |
3 |
Anne and Saulius, the Irish-Lithuanian couple owning and running this place, might well be there to give you a warm welcome as soon as you enter. The food is of the best in town, and affordable. Do not forget to ask for the wine list, or study the many shelved bottles. If you are lucky, Saulius might be there to share his wine wisdom...
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Steakhouse Hazienda
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Address: |
Maironio st. 13, Vilnius, Tel.: +370 5 2122087 www.mabre.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International and Lithuanian |
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Number of seats: |
60 |
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Number of halls: |
4 |
The restaurant is a part of the elegant Mabre Hotel’s monastery compound, offers a truly international and Lithuanian cuisine. A relaxed atmosphere for business lunch or evening dinner. Live music is performed at least three times a week, and during spring and summer the open-air terrace is the venue for very special events! The bar serves a good selection of beers and wines, spirits, and soft drinks. Among the very best steaks in town.
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Markus ir ko
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Address: |
M. Antokolskio g. 11, Vilnius Tel. +370 5 2623185 markusirko@takas.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International steak house |
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Number of seats: |
60 |
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Number of halls: |
2 |
This is certainly a restaurant you should visit if you want a really good, juicy, soft steak. The location in Vilnius' old Jewish quarter gives the place a unique atmosphere. It’s only regrettable that the serving staff's attitude is not on the same good level...
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Sue’s Indian Raja
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Address: |
Odminiu st. 3, Vilnius, Tel. +370 5 266 18 87 www.sues-lt.com/ |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
Indian |
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Number of seats: |
60 inside and 60 in summer terrace |
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Number of halls: |
2 |
Sue's Indian Raja is something of an
institution in Vilnius. It's just about the only game in town if you've got a
hankering for the savoury delights of the Subcontinent.
Owner and restaurateur extraordinaire, Wing
Commander (retired) Rajinder K. Chaudhary, the man whose shirts are always
crisp, can often be found tucket in a quiet nook, quietly tapping away at his
laptop. "Nothing here is pre-cooked, nothing is microwaved," he says
proudly.
All the spices used at Sue's, along with the rice,
are brought over from India.
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Zoe’s
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Address: |
Odminių st. 3, Vilnius, Tel. +370 5 2123331 www.zoesbargrill.com/ |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International |
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Number of seats: |
80 inside and 60 in summer terrace |
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Number of halls: |
3 |
Zoe's is one of the places in Vilnius you become genuinely fond of. The food is good, the service is impeccable. The atmosphere is always good. The boss himself, Swedish-Austrian Jurgen Weis, always have a steady hand throughout. Always a safe choice, if you ever were in doubt ...
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Medininkai
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Address: |
Ausros Vartu st. 6, Vilnius, Tel. +370 5 2660770 www.medininkai.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International |
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Number of seats: |
80 inside and 60 in summer terrace |
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Number of halls: |
3 |
Restaurant Medininkai follows their own, old tradition of offering excellent food and courteous, first-class service - in surroundings of refined elegance and impeccable hospitality. The restaurant is located in a former monastery in the heart of Vilnius near one of the oldest streets in town, today has the privilege of 16th century courtyard, where guests can have the added pleasure of lunching or dining outdoors during the summer season in the pleasant atmosphere of ancient Vilnius.
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Saint Germain
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Address: |
Literatu st. 9, Vilnius, Tel. +370 2621210 www.vynine.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
French |
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Number of seats: |
30 |
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Number of halls: |
1 |
Restaurant-winery “Saint Germain” is a place to meet, to be in a company with friends, to leave.... and to meet again. Retro style surrounding creates relaxing and informal atmosphere. This is a place for those preferring pleasant and cosy environment, no rush when enjoying gourmet meals and quality wine.
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.Lokys
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Address: |
Stikliu st. 8/10, Vilnius, Tel. +370 5 2629046 www.lokys.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
Lithuanian |
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Number of seats: |
173 |
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Number of halls: |
4 |
“Lokys” means ‘bear’. This hunters' restaurant is known for its fine flavour of historical Lithuania. Situated in the old town of Vilnius the restaurant offers many historic delights - among these, of course, delicious food according to traditional recipes. It is one of the oldest restaurants in Vilnius. As you sit in the restaurant's gothic cellars and listen to the lulling melodies of Lithuania played on a flute and accordion, the chef of the restaurant is busy roasting the finest hunting takes for you.
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Stikliai
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Address: |
Gaono st. 7, Vilnius, Tel. +370 5 2649580 www.stikliaihotel.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International |
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Number of seats: |
100 |
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Number of halls: |
3 |
Regarded by many as the highest-class and most elegant restaurant in the capital, the restaurant is located in the courtyard, under a glass roof and serves French cuisine. The restaurant is part of the Hotel Relais and Chateaux Stikliai.
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Žemaičių smuklė
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Address: |
Vokieciu st. 22, Vilnius, Tel. +3705 2620257 www.zemaiciai.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
Lithuanian |
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Number of seats: |
200 |
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Number of halls: |
6 |
This Samogitian tavern serves Lithuanian national dishes from the famous potatoes dumplings “cepelinai“ to simple and delicious curd cheese pancakes as well as European cuisine including game dishes and sea food. One of the oldest restaurants in town.
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Stikliai tavern
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The restaurant is located in the heart of the Vilnius Old Town. The vaulted cellar houses a restored Tavern, where traditional Lithuanian and European dishes are served. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed, created by antiques and Lithuanian country style items.
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Brewery ‘Prie katedros’
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Address: |
Gedimino av. 5, Vilnius, Tel. +370 605 7755 www.priekatedros.lt |
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Location: |
Centre |
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Cuisine: |
European |
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Number of seats: |
96 |
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Number of halls: |
4 |
This cellar restaurant on the main street of Vilnius (Gedimino ave) makes its own beer using honey, and one way or another adds either of the ingredients into the food it serves. Educational classes are organized for beer lovers. During the class the guests are introduced with the beer production session and get the opportunity to taste all sorts of beer that are produced in this little restaurant factory.
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San Marco
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Address: |
Subaciaus st. 2, Vilnius, Tel. +370 5 2553355 www.ramadavilnius.lt |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
Italian |
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Number of seats: |
120 |
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Number of halls: |
3 |
San Marco is the place for those who look for pleasure and peace. Italian style restaurant wit a quiet and delighted home atmosphere full of nice elements of refined decor, gourmet food and wines just in the Old town of Vilnius. Believe it or not, but I found a pearl in my oyster that evening...
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Ida Basar
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Address: |
Subačiaus st. 3, Vilnius, Tel.: +370 5 2553355 www.idabasar.lt/ |
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Location: |
Old Town |
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Cuisine: |
International |
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Number of seats: |
120 |
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Number of halls: |
6 |
Ida Basar is one of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Lithuania, situated in a XVI century architectural monument of Vilnius. It is also the only restaurant - museum in Lithuania and one of 4 of the kind in Europe. Guests can not only enjoy meals from international cuisine and delicacies from Lithuanian Grand Duchy (XIV - XVII century) noblemen meals, but also observe ample collection of antique dishes, cutlery, china, coffee grinders, and other - more than 4000 items in total.
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Belmontas
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Address: |
Belmonto str. 17 Vilnius, Tel.: +3705 615 20220 www.belmontas.lt |
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Location: |
15 min drive from the centre |
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Cuisine: |
Lithuanian / International |
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Number of seats: |
Lithuanian restaurant “Tavern of Joana Carinova” – 340 seats |
This entertainment and recreation centre is a very good place for any event: both formal and informal, in the open air and inside, from folk to classic style. Water falls, fountains, watermills, beautiful surroundings carefully looked after by the owners create a relaxing atmosphere. There is also an open-air bar and amphitheatre – an ideal place for any kind of performance.
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Awesome autumn!
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Autumn in Vilnius. Gediminas Tower, October 2011.
Photo: Aage Myhre.
And we in VilNews celebrate the autumn by introducing new Sections! Click the buttons 3 – 8 above and see for yourself.
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NEW!!
VilNews section 7:
VILNEWS E-SHOP FOR
LITHUANIAN PRODUCTS
We in VilNews want you who read us to feel connected to Lithuania, wherever in the world you live. We have now decided to expand our offerings to include various Lithuanian products that we think many can enjoy and benefit from.Lithuanian music, literature, art, linen, food-related products and more are now for sale via our VilNews E-Shop. Welcome to what we hope will bring you even closer to Lithuanian traditions and specialties!
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Belarus hopes to receive answer from Lithuania re Visaginas nuclear power plant project
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Planned nuclear plants in Belarus and Kaliningrad. The Visaginas plant is planned built in Lithuania.
Illustration: Stratfor.com.
Belarus hopes to receive an answer from Lithuania pertaining to the construction of the Visaginas nuclear power plant.
"Lithuania still has not given answers to Belarus about results of the environmental impact assessment [EIA] of its future nuclear power plant," Belarusian Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk told reporters on Friday.
He reaffirmed that during consultations with Lithuania, Minsk, in turn, had replied to Vilnius' questions about construction of Belarus' first nuclear power plant.
Mikhadyuk pointed to the maximum openness of all preparatory works for the construction of Belarus' NPP. They were supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Belarus discussed with the European Commission and IAEA the issue linked with Lithuania's complaints against the location of the Belarusian nuclear power plant in the Ostrovets district (Grodno region).
Besides, "there were no claims to Minsk about compliance of international norms and laws in the implementation of the NPP project," the deputy minister said.
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Vin Karnila is our e-shop guy!
- Posted by - (0) Comment
Vin Karnila, VilNews Associate Editor and owner of the e-shop
company ‘Baltic Value’ will be the person who will guide you
through the products and procedures we now offer.
Dear VilNews readers,
I really very much appreciate the request from VilNews to coordinate the sale of Lithuanian products to our E-magazine's readers around the world.
I moved from Boston, USA, here to my father's homeland in 2004. What started as Christmas gifts of some personal care products made here in Lithuania sent to family and friends developed into an ever growing number of Emails every week from people asking if I could get these and other items for them. Eventually the amount of requests became so overwhelming that we decided to make things easier and organized for everyone so in 2009 we opened our services to the public and “Baltic Value” was born.
The web site allows people to easily look through the items we offer, order them and then pay with their credit card – Anywhere they are in the world!
It is through my E-Shop “Baltic Value” that VilNews now will offer its readers products that we think will connect people with an affinity for Lithuania.
To visit the VilNews E-Shop simply go to www.balticvalue.com. Browse through our many departments and when you see something you like just put it in your “Shopping cart” and when you are finished shopping just go to “Checkout”. It’s a simple as that.
We ship worldwide so you can have your items delivered to your home or place of business and you can even have your items sent to another person as a gift.
If you have any questions about any of our products, shopping in our E-Shop, shipping or the payment process please do not hesitate to contact me at info@balticvalue.com
If there is something you would like that you do not see in our E-Shop please contact us and tell us what you are looking for. Since we are located in Lithuania and since we also have a network of contacts all throughout the country we are very successful in filling special requests for items.
Sincerely Yours,
Vin Karnila
HERE IS A SAMPLING OF OUR PRODUCT CATERGORIES:
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MUSIC From some of the Best and Most Popular Traditional Lithuanian Folk Music Groups. Bring the Rich Heritage of Lithuanian Folk Music into your home and car. We put a great deal of thought into what CD's we should offer. Our decision was that we should offer CD's from the groups that are the best at researching the history and traditions of traditional Lithuanian folk music so that their performances give the listener the true historic and traditional sounds. We also wanted to include the groups that are the most popular in Lithuania. As an added treat we included a section that represents what Lithuanian Village Music is all about. |
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| 2. | BOOKS
It took some time but we have finally sorted through many of the English language books that are available here in Lithuania. What we came up with are the books that we recommend when one of our long time clients asks for a book on a certain topic or for a specific purpose. Included in this list are books that we often personally send as gifts. What you will find here are the books that we feel best represent Lithuanian history, culture and traditions. What was also given consideration was who the author or publisher was. We also have an extensive selection of books published by the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of Lithuania |
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MAPS OF LITHUANIA AND THE BALTICS Here you will find one of the most extensive offerings of Lithuanian maps and Road Atlases anywhere on the Internet. We have assembled for you: MAPS of All the REGIONS of Lithuania |
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| 4. | LITHUANIAN LINEN
The quality of the Linen produced in Lithuania is renowned worldwide. We are very excited to be able to offer a wide assortment of Lithuanian Linen items such as Luxurious Linen Bathrobes perfect for relaxing in any time of year Elegant Table Linens perfect for casual lunches or formal dinning What may possibly be the softest and thickest Linen Bath Towels you will ever have the pleasure of using Linen sheets, duvets and pillow cases that will help give you comfortable and restful sleep no matter how cold or how hot the weather |
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| 5. | T-SHIRTS
The MESSAGE on the SHIRT SAYS IT ALL |
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| 6. | FOOD AND MIXES
Bring the Tastes of the Baltic Culture into Your Home with these mixes and food products. CEPELINAI MIX PANCAKE / BLYNAI MIX POTATO PANCAKE MIX / BULVIU BLYNAI ZEMAICIU BLYNAI / ZEMAICIU POTATO PANCAKE MIX |
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| 7. | ELECTRIC POTATO GRATER
Directly from Lithuania Perfect for preparing all your favorite recipes that require grated potatoes. This electric potato grater is made in Lithuania. |
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Your home for quality products
WE SHIP WORLWIDE |
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CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED WITH YOUR E-PURCHASE! |
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Would a ‘Genealogy Section’ in VilNews be of interest for you?
Please contact our Associate Editor, Vin Karnila, as soon as
possible if you think a ‘Genealogy Section’ in VilNews would
be of interest for our readers around the world.
vin.karnila@VilNews.com
Text: Vin Karnila, Associate Editor
We at VilNews have received numerous inquiries from our readers regarding locating relatives in Lithuania or more specific information about their Lithuanian ancestors. Since we know that tracing your Lithuanian Roots is a very important issue for many of you, we are considering a special section, “Genealogy Lithuania”, to assist you in finding information about your ancestors in Lithuania.
Please respond to us if you think such a section would be of interest for our readers around the globe.
The On Line Lithuanian Telephone Book
Once you have an idea as to what the names of your immigrant ancestors were the best place to start and probably the most recommended is the On Line Lithuanian Telephone Book
http://www.zebra.lt/lt/suzinok/telefonai/. This can help you find people currently living in Lithuania with the family name you are searching for. This was in fact how I first found members of the Karnila family so this is what I always first recommend for people to use.
It is however in the Lithuanian language so here are some instructions for using it.
Pavardė = family name/last name
Vietovė = location – In the pull down menu you will see “Didieji miestai”. These are the large cities in Lithuania. “Kiti miestai” are other cities in the country. If you want to search a specific city, click the city of your choice. If you want to search all of Lithuania, do not select a city.
Then click “Ieškoti” and the next page will show any matches to the name you entered.
Some helpful advice for finding a place on a map
The online Lithuanian Telephone Book web site will show you the location on a map however if you want to find the location again on a mapping web site you will need to enter the name correctly. If you try to copy the address that the phone book gave you it will not work. This is because the place names are displayed with Lithuanian grammar.
As an example, the listing could show an address like this:
Sodų g. 2, Rumšiškių mstl., Rumšiškių sen., Kėdainių raj.
The street address, Sodų g. 2 will work on a mapping web site but the rest will not.
“Rumšiškių mstl.” is actually Rumšiškės so you would need to enter Rumšiškės in the mapping web site. The “mstl.” is the abreviation for miestelis which means town. Don‘t enter the word “miestelis” or “mstl” in the mapping web site. You may also find a listing such as “Bajoriškių k”. The “k” means Kaimas or village so this would be the village of Bajoriškiai. A listing such as “Švenčionėlių m.”. The “m” means miestas or city so this would be the city of Švenčionėliai. Don‘t enter the words “village” or “city and don’t enter or “k” or “m” in the mapping web site.
“Rumšiškių sen.” is Rumšiškių seniūnija. Seniūnija is the local government administration office so this means that Rumšiškės is under the jusidiction of this office. You wont need Rumšiškių sen. For the mapping web site. Only enter this if you do not know the name of the village but know what administrative office serves it.
“Kėdainių raj.” is Kadainiai region. Again, you won’t need this for the mapping web site. About the only time you would need to enter the seniūnija or region is if there are more than one town or village with that name.
www.maps.lt is a very good mapping web site you may want to check out.
Even with the number of mapping web sites out there it is a good idea to get a map. The problem with the mapping web sites is that as you zoom in, the area you are viewing gets smaller and you lose the relationship of where you are in relation to other areas. When you zoom out you lose details. When you get a map you will want the scale to be at least 1:400 000. Even at this scale it will not show some of the smaller villages. As an example my family’s village of Garonys is not shown on a map of this scale. To get a map that shows my village I bought what is called an “apylinkės” (district) map which is at a scale of 1:130 000. Another good tool is the Lithuanian Road Atlas in 1:120 000 scale. All of these maps and atlases are available at www.balticvalue.com They have about the largest assortment of Lithuanian maps and road atlases on the Internet.
Some websites
We have compiled a list of some good web sites to get information from. Please keep in mind that no one web site will usually give you all the information you are looking for so it is good to check as many as you can.
Lithuanian Global Genealogical Society. LGGS
http://www.lithuaniangenealogy.org/
GenoPro - Genealogy ressources in Lithuania
Good site with useful links for searching for people of the Jewish Faith.
Included are The JewishGen Yizkor Book, JewishGen ShtetlSeeker, Litvak SIG and JewishGen Lithuania Database
http://www.genopro.com/genealogy-links/?country=LT&t=Lithuania
Lithuanian State Historical Archives
http://www.archyvai.lt/archyvai/index.jsp
Vilnius church provincial archives documents and metadata information system – Lithuanian language
http://www.kf.vu.lt/baris/
Archives of Belarus
http://archives.gov.by/eng/
Polish Virtual Archives
http://szukajwarchiwach.pl/
Polish genealogy and coats of arms
http://www.jurzak.pl/
Polish genealogy
http://www.genealogiapolska.pl/index.php
Lithuanian estates Database. Very interesting web site – Lithuanian language
http://www.heritage.lt/dvarai/ppavadinimas.php
Lithuanian military volunteers - Lithuanian language
http://www.versme.lt/sav_a.htm
The Statue of Liberty- Ellis Island Foundation
http://www.ellisisland.org/
LitvakSIG – Lithuanian Jewish Special Interest Group
http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/all.htm
Genealogy Links Lithuania
http://www.genealogylinks.net/europe/lithuania/
LITHUANIA MAILING LISTS
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jfuller/gen_mail_country-lit.html#LITHUANIA
Lithuania Professional Research
http://genealogyjourney.com/t/?x=Vilnius
Lithuanian Place Name Changes
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilwinneb/placelit.htm
As stated before, no one web site will usually give you all the information you are looking for so dear readers if you know of any web sites that are helpful in providing information for tracing some ones Lithuanian Roots please tell us about them so that we can share them with our fellow readers.
A word about some of the genealogy pay sites. As you search the web for sites that offer genealogical information you will come across many sites that require you to pay a fee to use them. Are they worth it??? Good question. Let’s face it, if they help you find your family they are worth it but the chances of finding your family on one of these sites is kind of hit or miss. This is because of how most of them work. Most of them do two things. They provide a program to organize your data or in other words create your family tree. What they also do is give you access to the data from the other people that use this site. So if some one that has a connection to your family has also paid to use this site then it is possible to view their information – maybe. The person has to authorize the web site to display their information. They can also instruct the web site to limit the information for privacy purposes. I have found that this “limited” information is not much help. Of course if no one with a connection to your family has used the specific pay site then it won’t be of much help to you.
As you start to gather information it is highly advisable to organize it. The best way to do this is to use genealogy software. There are quite a few genealogy software programs out there. I have tried a few and have not been very satisfied with them. The reason being that the reports they generate are limited. There is only one software program that I can personally recommend and I can tell you that I highly recommend this software. It is easy to use, easy to input data and easy to find data and it provides a very wide variety of report formats. The program is called “Brother’s Keeper” and it is considered one of the best genealogy software programs available.
You can get more information from their web site
http://bkwin.org/
at the bottom of the page you will find the link to their online store
http://brotherskeeperstore.stores.yahoo.net/brotkeepforw.html
Contact the people that you possibly are related to
Now let us talk about what you can do once you finally find information about a person or some people that you are possibly related to. There is only one thing to do – You need to contact them. If you have both an Email address and a mailing address I would recommend that you send both an Email and a letter. This is because you don’t know if one or the other is still current.
In the message KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE. Tell them who you are. Tell them the information you know. This would be the information about the people in your family that do not live in Lithuania. If you have information about your family in Lithuania of course include this. What you are trying to provide is a line from you back to Lithuania. The information that is helpful is names, dates and places. Adding brothers, sisters and cousins will not be of much help and could confuse things unless any of these people were born in Lithuania or can trace themselves back to Lithuania.
If you are going to write a letter to Lithuania and don’t speak Lithuanian I really wouldn’t worry about it. In this day and age in Lithuania finding some one to translate a letter written in English is not much of a problem. However when I recommend KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE, you will want to be very careful in regards to grammar and phrases. I am an English language trainer here in Vilnius and I can tell you that only my advanced level students can fully understand (sometimes) all the nuances of English grammar. When you write your letter try to use only the “simple tense” and limit the use of the “continuous tense”. Try to write nothing in the “perfect tense” as the perfect tense is VERY difficult to understand because this form of grammar does not exist in the Lithuanian language. Writing a letter all in the simple tense is easy to do and easy to translate and understand. I also operate an editing service here and I can tell you that most of the letters I edit related to genealogy end up being reduced by about 50% so that only the key information remains - KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE.
The next question is when should I send the letter???
The answer is – As soon as you get a name and address to send a letter to!!!
I have edited some letters more than a year ago for some people and they still have not sent the letter. The usual reason is that they are still trying to get more information. Until you send the letter you probably won’t get any useful information so just send the letter. Some one may respond to your letter in effect saying that your information is too general to show a direct link. If that’s the case, at least you have established a contact. I have found that the people here in Lithuania are more than happy to try to help people find their families even if they are not sure they are directly related to you.
Searching for your roots can be interesting, rewarding and frustrating. So much of it is hit or miss and in some cases just pure luck and good fortune. Although it took years for me to finally find and connect with my family here in Lithuania, I was lucky that the name of Karnila is a rather unique name. All of the Karnilas in Lithuania are traced back to the same family. My grandmother’s family of Petkevičius is a different matter in that it is more common. Eventually I learned that I had to address her family as Petkevičius of the Kaišiadorys region. When I enter the name of Petkevičius in the On Line Lithuanian Telephone Book there are 280 matches. A dear friend of mine has the family name of Kazlauskas. When you enter this name in the On Line Lithuanian Telephone Book you get about 150 matches. Things like this can make matters much more of a challenge. In spite of some of these road blocks and detours the key to success is to just keep on searching.
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Please let us know if you think a “Genealogy Section” in VilNews would be of interest |
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Reply to the article of Mr. Plasseraud published in VilNews in October 2011
Lithuania and the memory
of Holocaust
By Didier Bertin, President of the Society for the Promotion of the European Human Rights Model (France)-14 October 2011
We love Lithuania and its wonderful and precious language and fine people! The sole acute problem of Lithuania might be its government.
There is still a lot to do in this country for Human Rights Organizations like fighting Racism, antisemitism, Homophobia and promoting education and free information as the corner stone of democracy for a member-State of the European Union.
Mr. Plasseraud reminded important criticisms which could be made in Lithuania and that he does not share despite they are true in our opinion: The obliteration of the participation of Lithuanian militias in Pogroms and Holocaust, the “current” authorization of Nazi Parades and the creation of a new concept which put in equivalence of the Holocaust and the suffering of people under communist dictatorship whose consequence is the arbitrary second ranking of the Holocaust. This concept is named double Genocide and made a mathematical equality between events, which has no sense in History. In fact this concept aims to obliterate or reduce one of the two components of the equation, which is clearly the Holocaust as this can be seen in Lithuania.
As a matter of fact the Vilnius Genocide Museum displays only facts on the Soviet oppression and we were personally told by a member of the Staff that for “the Jewish things” we have to go to the green hut named “Green House”, which is a very poor small a museum in a wooden hut and which at last refers to the Holocaust. This so called museum is as difficult to find as the Holocaust in the Lithuanian History. However and on top of these negative facts many others were forgotten were forgotten by Mr. Plasseraud.
We were also shocked by similar substantial obliterations in the museum of the 9th Fort in Kaunas. We had also the opportunity to check the content of a History school book of a 15 years old Lithuanian schoolboy and we noticed that it was far from the richness of our French school books. The History school book we saw was very slim and presented an over- simplified version of events.
We understood that the bad treatment of History was deeply rooted in Lithuania when we learned that the public relation manager of the Genocide Center associated to the Genocide museum and considered as “a “senior specialist” is the current leader of a Neo-Nazi organization.
96% of the Lithuanian Jews were killed in 4 years, which is the highest country rate of extermination of the Holocaust and of course 96% of the Lithuanian people were not killed in such proportion over a so short period and then were not victim of an equivalent genocide.
Lithuanian people still exist and are active in Lithuania when the Jewish people almost entirely disappeared. The double genocide is clearly a fake concept probably developed for ideological reasons. We are on the side of the victims of Genocides and we are thus opposed to the over-utilization of the word “Genocide” in order to preserve its real meaning. The over- utilization of this word obfuscates the responsibility of perpetrators of “real Genocides” as the Holocaust and the Genocides in Armenia, Rwanda and Cambodia.
Lithuania is the sole country of the planet, which currently tries to prosecute Holocaust Survivors and members of the resistance against Nazis during World War II. The reason for this harassment is that few of them are still alive and witnessed militias members participating to the holocaust while Lithuanian authorities want to consider them as resistants. Lithuanian authorities went too far in asking Interpol to hunt these heroes. Their last request to Interpol in order to hunt a very old Holocaust survivor in Israel was made at the end of August 2011 with of course no result but a lot of international protestations, which are detrimental for the whole people of Lithuania.
Lithuania is also the sole country on the planet to have legalized the display of the Swastika in
2010 and this is a shame for the whole European Union and provocation against European
Ethics. This sole fact is very eloquent and should lead Mr. Plasseraud to review his position.
The duly authorized Nazi Parades in Vilnius are totally intolerable in European Union and should also be considered as a provocation against European Ethics. A Member of Parliament as the above mentioned “Senior Specialist” of the Genocide center participated both with the mob to the last 2011 Nazi Parade in Vilnius.
In June 2011, a conference was organized by the Genocide center in the premises of the Lithuanian Parliament. The target of this conference among others was the rehabilitation of the LAF (Lithuanian Activist Front) who initiated with others the Pogroms that constitute the onset of the Lithuanian Holocaust.
The Lithuanian Activist Front –LAF and other participants took the opportunity of the withdrawal of the Red Army and the fact that the German Army did not yet arrived to barbarically murder 5 000 Jews in 5 days from 25 June to 29 June 1941 in the sole area of Kaunas ( similar events of smaller magnitude occurred in other cities).
The fact that “the Patriotic Youth” who currently utilizes the slogan “Thank God, I am white” is currently subsidized by the authorities as are other far rightist organizations, is another outrage against the terms of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
As a matter of fact there is a “Double Genocide” in Lithuania which is the genocide of the Jewish people and today the Genocide of the remembrance of their martyrdom.
Fighting for the remembrance of the martyrdom of the Jewish people cannot be called “gesticulations” as said Mr. Plasseraud but is a duty of anyone defending Human Rights.
We also want to respectfully remind readers that Russia was an ally during World War II, and despite Communism’s atrocious dictatorship we must not forget the sacrifice of the lives of
13.5 million Russian soldiers without which Western Europe might not have been easily freed from the Nazis by the other allies. If the Nazis were not defeated as they were, there would have been no Lithuania to regain its freedom in 1990/1991, because it seems clear today that its Germanisation was in their agenda.
For more information on this topic: www.DefendingHistory.com,, Lithuania and Baltic- countries pages of www.OperationLastChance.org and www.euro-social-hr.org
Thank you and greetings from France,
DIDIER BERTIN
PRESIDENT
SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS MODEL (FRANCE) http://www.euro-social-hr.org
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May Lithuania rot in hell for a 1000 years! One-sentence Letter to the Editor from a reader in USA |
Lithuania and the memory
of the Shoah (Holocaust)
By Yves Plasseraud, Paris
May Lithuania rot in hell for a thousand years! This is what one could recently read in a Letter to VilNews’ Editor. This vindictive sentence sums up, in a nutshell, the language of a number of the current Western (including Israeli) and Russian discourses on this Baltic country. The rationale behind this demonization is what the authors of these writings consider as the radical and supposedly built-in anti-Semitism of the Lithuanians.
To support their demonstration, they argue that the « Lithuanians » have recently been systematically trying to obliterate their massive participation in the Shoah (Holocaust) by putting forward the forged thesis of the so-called « double genocide ». Two of their main arguments in this respect are the Lithuanian support to the 2008 Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism, and on the one hand, the name and the exhibits of the Vilnius Genocide Museum on the other hand (displaying much more about the Soviet oppression than about the Nazi one).
These two points are indeed objectively questionable and, more generally, despite many significant progresses, there are evidently a number of things to criticize in the Lithuanian handling of the Jewish question. Nothing however justifies the current intensity of their gesticulations and the « ontological » hate against this country they manifest ! In these matters, Lithuania is certainly not worse than most of the post-soviet countries of the East-Central European Area. Amongst the nations of the area, Lithuania is probably the one which has accomplished the biggest steps toward recognition and information of its dark pages in history, and these critics appear to systematically ignore this fact. The recent reaction of the informed public about the recent neo-Nazi parade in Vilnius offers a good illustration of this evolution.
If these current harsh and oversized critics really wanted to help the Lithuanian society progress forward on the way of recognition and democracy, it seems evident that they would adopt a more acceptable and convincing language. They would also address the Lithuanian public and not the Western media which are basically very uniformed of these matters and furthermore deprived of any contacts with the Lithuanian population.
If their aim is really an improvement of the situation on the Eastern-Central European ground at large, it also appears that they should concentrate on what takes place currently in the field of human rights. In this respect, a country like Russia where racism is unfortunately omnipresent and where historical revisionism is often a state Policy should be a central preoccupation! On the contrary, they regularly side-up with Moscow in criticizing the small neighbouring countries!
No, their attitude is not rational and obviously originates from somewhere else and has other objectives which – at this point – are unfortunately not very clear.
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A new European alliance?
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Some time ago we raised the question about a potential new alliance between Russia, Poland, Germany and France. Below some of the comments we have received.
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kahlua recipe·2 weeks ago
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Russia has ambitions
few in the west
are aware of
Vladimir Putin and Gerhard Schröder.
Photo: Wikipedia.org.
Text: Aage Myhre
Editor-in-Chief
aage.myhre@vilnews.com
Professor Vytautas Landsbergis continuously warns his country and the world about the Russian threat. I think these warnings sometimes are a bit excessive, but I’m also afraid that Western Europe will continue acting and thinking with their blinders and ear flaps on. Yeltsin's Russia was perhaps more or less loose tooth, but Putin's Russia is definitely not! And Putin has ambitions. Big ambitions. I have learned this over my years in his front yard. It surprises me constantly to see how little Western leaders worry.
Putin has publicly stated that the dissolution of the Soviet Union was the most tragic has happened in Russia's history. It is an attitude not only Eastern Europe should be scared of. Western Europe and the rest of the world will also be greatly influenced if Putin gets what he wants.
Energy is the weapon. This applies not least to gas, which the rest of Europe is highly dependent on. The state-owned Russian gas company Gazprom is Putin's main tool in the efforts to achieve more and more control in Europe. It is often through this company that many spies and agents are paid.
Baltic states are particularly vulnerable. These relatively poor countries are already paying 50% more for gas received from Russia than Germany does. And every time they do something to achieve independence from Russian supplies of gas, oil or electricity, Putin is ready with the finger on the switch. Ready to turn off the power, once again to make a blow to the Baltic States. Unfortunately, he has more than enough power to threaten and trump through most of the restrictions.
I put big question marks at Germany's former chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, for his roles in his native country and for Europe. Schröder cultivated very close ties to Putin, even as Chancellor, ostensibly to strengthen the "strategic partnership" between Berlin and Moscow.
Together they planned the now realized gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, exclusively between Russia and Germany. Only a few days before he resigned as Chancellor Schröder signed the agreement without consulting with his EU counterparts, and immediately after his retirement he joined the board of the German-Russian joint venture.
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Russia has ambitions
few in the west
are aware of
Vladimir Putin and Gerhard Schröder.
Photo: Wikipedia.org.
Text: Aage Myhre
Editor-in-Chief
aage.myhre@vilnews.com
Professor Vytautas Landsbergis continuously warns his country and the world about the Russian threat. I think these warnings sometimes are a bit excessive, but I’m also afraid that Western Europe will continue acting and thinking with their blinders and ear flaps on. Yeltsin's Russia was perhaps more or less loose tooth, but Putin's Russia is definitely not! And Putin has ambitions. Big ambitions. I have learned this over my years in his front yard. It surprises me constantly to see how little Western leaders worry.
Putin has publicly stated that the dissolution of the Soviet Union was the most tragic has happened in Russia's history. It is an attitude not only Eastern Europe should be scared of. Western Europe and the rest of the world will also be greatly influenced if Putin gets what he wants.
Energy is the weapon. This applies not least to gas, which the rest of Europe is highly dependent on. The state-owned Russian gas company Gazprom is Putin's main tool in the efforts to achieve more and more control in Europe. It is often through this company that many spies and agents are paid.
Baltic states are particularly vulnerable. These relatively poor countries are already paying 50% more for gas received from Russia than Germany does. And every time they do something to achieve independence from Russian supplies of gas, oil or electricity, Putin is ready with the finger on the switch. Ready to turn off the power, once again to make a blow to the Baltic States. Unfortunately, he has more than enough power to threaten and trump through most of the restrictions.
I put big question marks at Germany's former chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, for his roles in his native country and for Europe. Schröder cultivated very close ties to Putin, even as Chancellor, ostensibly to strengthen the "strategic partnership" between Berlin and Moscow.
Together they planned the now realized gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, exclusively between Russia and Germany. Only a few days before he resigned as Chancellor Schröder signed the agreement without consulting with his EU counterparts, and immediately after his retirement he joined the board of the German-Russian joint venture.
Schröder was criticized in the media, and later by Germany's new chancellor, Angela Merkel, when he called Putin
a "flawless democrat 'on 22 November 2004. His so-called objectivity of years as chancellor may well be questioned.
In his memoirs' Entscheidungen: Mein Leben in der Politik ' Schröder defends his friend and ally, Vladimir Putin, saying that' it would be wrong to place excessive demands on Russia in terms of domestic political reform and democratic development, or to condemn Russia solely on basis of the Chechnya conflict '. Well ...
Schroeder has also criticized some European countries' rapid decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent state after the independence declaration in February 2008. He believes the decision was taken under strong pressure from the U.S. government, and has caused several problems, including weakening of the so-called pro-European powers in Serbia. In August 2008, Schroeder blamed the war between South Ossetia and Georgia entirely on Mikhail Saakashvili and 'the West'.
The former chancellor still refuses to criticize any aspect of Russian politics. His office in Moscow is probably too good to be left. Then rather forget some moral principles.
Gas is crucially important for continental Europe. Even a brief interruption in supplies do often get very serious consequences. People freeze to death. Radiators and kitchen stoves are left cold. Companies are forced to stop their production.
Russia is increasing its grip on oil and gas, Europe's economic lifeblood. Moscow is working out of a comprehensive strategies aiming to increase Europe's political and economic dependence on Russian energy.
Such dependence can negatively affect transatlantic relations, common values, goals, strategic objectives and security policies. Without dialogue and coordination between Washington and European capitals, Europe's strategic plans are driven away from the United States unabated. It is consistent with Putin's plans.
Norway is an important alternative gas supplier to the European market. Therefore, for Putin and Medvedev, it is important to have good relations with Norway, among other things, to show 'courtesy' about sharing the lines in the Barents Sea and potential Norwegian participation in exploration and production of gas and oil on Russian territory.
Hopefully, Norway and Europe will understand the picture in time.
A new, disturbing aspect is that Russia now has plans to build two nuclear power plants in the Baltic States, one in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, and another as a joint Russian-Belarusian project in Belarus near the Lithuanian border. Europe needs more energy, but with Chernobyl and Soviet history with nuclear power plants and nuclear waste in mind, one can ask whether two new plants at the very threshold of Northern Europe and Scandinavia is desirable.
I call for clearer information and a more open debate.
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Above: Signatures by VIC’s initial ‘working group’
in October 2001, 10 years ago.
Visit the VIC web page:
http://vilnius-international-club.com/
Vilnius International Club (VIC) has since October 2001* been a leading club and a dynamic meeting point for local people with international interests and for expatriates from many countries. The club’s mission is to support and encourage the cultural, historic, and economic vitality of Vilnius as a capital city and of Lithuania as an outstanding historic and contemporary scene for interaction and constructive activities between fine people from many countries. Men and women from the expatriate and Lithuanian communities, working in diplomatic, business, and cultural spheres, fulfil VIC’s mission through fellowship, monthly meetings, and occasional charitable programmes.
*VIC started its activities in October 2001, and was formally established in February 2002.
***************************************************************************************************
Opinions about VIC over the years
VIC has built a new bridge...
VIC is a refreshing initiative that has built a new bridge between local Lithuanians and foreigners in Vilnius. The success of the Club is a result of good balance between many different nationalities and great variety of cultural and social activities. It is important to maintain high share of Lithuanians in VIC as expatriates do not need a club to meet foreigners..
- Bjarne-Espen Christiansen, Manager of Scandinavian Airlines (Denmark)
The VIC format is very unique...
I think VIC format is very unique. It encompasses many features that many other clubs/organizations, between which we share our off-duty time, lack. It has planned events schedule, as well as beautiful ad-hoc social surprises; and, most importantly, diversity of people and themes.
- Vygandas Juras, Partner of Baltcap Management (Lithuania)
Potential to integrate Vilnius community into modern Europe...
It is a creative organisation with huge potential to integrate Vilnius community into modern Europe.
- Daiva Vitkute, Managing Director, Vilnius Consult (Lithuania)
I am extremely grateful for Vilnius International Club actions...
I am extremely grateful for Vilnius International Club actions enhancing cultural, historical and economic life in our city. I am also thankful for charity programs set for unprivileged inhabitants of the city. The variety of activities you accomplish in the city contributes to the philanthropic movement development as well as assists with the implementation of tangible social projects in Vilnius...
- The Mayor of Vilnius City Municipality, Arturas Zuokas
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OPINIONS
Have your say. Send to:
editor@VilNews.com
Ph. D., Chicago
A wave of unity sweeps the international Lithuanian community on March 11th every year as Lithuanians celebrated the anniversary of the Lithuanian Parliament's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. However, the sense of national unity engendered by the celebration could be short-lived.
Human beings have a strong tendency to overgeneralize and succumb to stereotypical us-them distinctions that can shatter even the strongest bonds. We need only search the internet to find examples of divisive thinking at work:
- "Those who fled Lithuania during World II were cowards -- and now they come back, flaunt their wealth, and tell us 'true Lithuanians' how to live."
- "Lithuanians who work abroad have abandoned their homeland and should be deprived of their Lithuanian citizenship."
In Lithuania Christmas Eve is a family event and the New Year's Eve a great party with friends!
Lithuanian say "Kaip sutiksi naujus metus, taip juos ir praleisi" (the way you'll meet the new year is the way you will spend it). So everyone is trying to spend New Year's Eve with friend and have as much fun as possible.
Lithuanian New Year's traditions are very similar to those in other countries, and actually were similar since many years ago. Also, the traditional Lithuanian New Years Eve party was very similar to other big celebrations throughout the year.
The New Year's Eve table is quite similar to the Christmas Eve table, but without straws under the tablecloth, and now including meat dishes. A tradition that definitely hasn't changes is that everybody is trying not to fell asleep before midnight. It was said that if you oversleep the midnight point you will be lazy all the upcoming year. People were also trying to get up early on the first day of the new year, because waking up late also meant a very lazy and unfortunate year.
During the New Year celebration people were dancing, singing, playing games and doing magic to guess the future. People didn't drink much of alcohol, especially was that the case for women.
Here are some advices from elders:
- During the New Year, be very nice and listen to relatives - what you are during New Year Eve, you will be throughout the year.
- During to the New Year Eve, try not to fall, because if this happens, next year you will be unhappy.
- If in the start of the New Year, the first news are good - then the year will be successful. If not - the year will be problematic.
* If New Year's night is cold and starry - look forward to a good summer!
* If the during New Year Eve trees are covered with frost - then it will be a good year. If it is wet weather on New Year's Eve, one can expect a year where many will die and dangerous epidemics occur.
* If the first day of the new year is snowy - the upcoming year will see many young people die. If the night is snowy - mostly old people will die.
* If the New Year time is cold - then Easter will be warm.
* If during New Year there are a lot of birds in your homestead - then all year around there will be many guests and the year will be fun.
Christmas greetings
from Vilnius
and epic battle for the
future
Philosopher, political theorist, historian of
ideas, social analyst, and political
commentator
Ukraine was and continues to be perceived by the EU political class as a sort of grey zone with its immense potential and possibilities for the future, yet deeply embedded and trapped in No Man's Land with all of its troubled past, post-Soviet traumas, ambiguities, insecurities, corruption, social divisions, and despair. Why worry for what has yet to emerge as a new actor of world history in terms of nation-building, European identity, and deeper commitments to transparency and free market economy?
Right? Wrong. No matter how troubled Ukraine's economic and political reality could be, the country has already passed the point of no return. Even if Vladimir Putin retains his leverage of power to blackmail Ukraine and the West in terms of Ukraine's zero chances to accede to NATO due to the problems of territorial integrity, occupation and annexation of Crimea, and mayhem or a frozen conflict in the Donbas region, Ukraine will never return to Russia's zone of influence. It could be deprived of the chances to join NATO or the EU in the coming years or decades, yet there are no forces on earth to make present Ukraine part of the Eurasia project fostered by Putin.
want to learn about the
new, scary propaganda
war between Russia,
The West and the
Baltic States!
believe their government
is corrupt
students say no to
bribes for doctors
During Soviet times, government was administered for the people in control, not for the local population, court decisions were decreed, they were not the administration of justice, and academia was the domain of ideologues. 25 years of freedom and openness should have put those bad experiences behind Lithuania, but that is not so.
Today, it is a matter of expectation that court pronouncements will be governed by ideological dictates. Few, if any Lithuanians expect real justice to be effected. For foreign companies, doing business in Lithuania is almost impossible in a situation where business people do not expect rule of law, so, surely Government would be a refuge of competence?
Lithuanian Government has not emerged from Soviet styles. In an attempt to devolve power, Lithuania has created a myriad of fiefdoms of power, each speaking in the name of the Government, each its own centralized power base of ideology.
Chepstow, Wales
Doesn't that sound suspiciously like Lithuania? Ah, but I didn't mention the mountains of Snowdonia, which would give the game away.
I'm talking about Wales, that part of the UK which Lithuanians used to call "Valija", but later named "Velsas" (why?). Wales, the nation which has welcomed two Lithuanian heads of state to its shores - firstly Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, who has paid several visits and, more recently, President Dalia Grybauskaitė who attended the 2014 NATO summit which was held in Newport, South Wales.
ENGLISH VERSION OF THE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS.
Although Lithuanian activities have thinned over the decades as that postwar generation died out, the Lithuanian Martyrs' parish hall is crowded with many, many hundreds of visitors who come to the Lithuanian cemetery for All Souls' Day. Similarly, the Franciscan parish has standing room only for Christmas Eve mass.
Although I am firmly embedded in the literary culture of Canada, my themes are usually Lithuanian, and I'll be in Kaunas and Vilnius in mid-November 2015 to give talks about the Lithuanian translations of my novels and short stories, which I write in English.
If you have the Lithuanian language, come by to one of the talks listed in the links below. And if you don't, you can read more about my work at
www.anatanassileika.com
http://www.vdu.lt/lt/rasytojas-antanas-sileika-pristatys-savo-kuryba/ https://leu.lt/lt/lf/lf_naujienos/kvieciame-i-rasytojo-59hc.html
"My love and best wishes to all. As long as VilNews exists, there is hope for the future,"" she writes.
Irena Veisaite means very much for our publication, and we do hereby thank her for the support and wise commitment she always shows.
You can read our interview with her
Facing a new reality
Dear readers of VilNews,
For a number of years, the EU and Russia had assumed the existence of a strategic partnership, based on the convergence of values, economic integration and increasingly open markets and a modernisation agenda for society.
Our agenda was positive and ambitious. We looked at Russia as a country ready to converge with "European values", a country likely to embrace both the basic principles of democratic government and a liberal concept of the world order. It was believed this would bring our relations to a new level, covering the whole spectrum of the EU's strategic relationship with Russia.
The likelihood of Putin
invading Lithuania
.jpg "lithuania today")
Founding Director at Summer Literary Seminars
Are all Lithuanian energy
problems now resolved?
Lithuania as a country does not have significant energy resources. Energy consuming infrastructure after WWII was small and totally supported by energy imports from Russia.
First nuclear reactor begins power generation at Ignalina in 1983, the second reactor in 1987. Iganlina generates enough electricity to cover Lithuania's needs and about 50%.for export. As, prerequisite for membership in EU, Ignalina ceases all nuclear power generation in 2009
The Klaipėda Sea terminal begins Russia's oil export operations in 1959 and imports in 1994.
Mazeikiu Nafta (current ORLEAN Lietuva) begins operation of oil refinery in 1980.
Have Lithuanian ties across
the Baltic Sea become
stronger in recent years?
The two decades that have passed since regaining Lithuania's independence can be described as a "building boom". From the wreckage of a captive Soviet republic, a generation of Lithuanians have built a modern European state, and are now helping construct a Nordic-Baltic community replete with institutions intended to promote political coordination and foster a trans-Baltic regional identity. Indeed, a "Nordic-Baltic community" - I will explain later in my text the meaning of this catch-phrase.
Since the restoration of Lithuania's independence 25 years ago, we have continuously felt a strong support from Nordic countries. Nordics in particular were among the countries supporting Lithuania's and Baltic States' striving towards independence. Take example of Iceland, country which recognized Lithuania in February of 1991, well in advance of other countries. Yet another example - Swedish Ambassador was the first ambassador accredited to Lithuania in 1991. The other countries followed suit. When we restored our statehood, Nordic Countries became champions in promoting Baltic integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. To large degree thanks Nordic Countries, massive transformations occurred in Lithuania since then, Lithuania became fully-fledged member of the EU and NATO, and we joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2015.
Have you heard about the
South African "Pencil Test"?
But that is exactly what happened to me when I came back from South Africa. I will tell you how.
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