My HOME PAGE - About Lithuania and Lithuanians
Lithuania has always been on my mind. As a young child I would sit for hours on end, listening to relatives recall stories about the lives of loved ones from ‘The Old Country’. As I grew older my fascination with Lithuania became a passion.
Although I was born and raised in America, my family always reminded me of our connection to our ancestral homeland. Over the years, as friendships with Lithuanians and Lithuanian Descendants were developed, I realized that our common bonds were forged many centuries ago.
They are strong bonds, wrought by the courage and sacrifices of countless generations. And should always be held close to our hearts
May 9, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I enjoy your site very much. Now in preparation for my first trip to
Lithuania (3 wks-August). Here in Columbus, Ohio we have a very small
Lithuanian-American community. 10 years ago we began to hold “Baltic”
picnics. Each September members of the small Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian communities gather together. Now a tradition, the event has enabled us discover the common threads of culture, history and mutual interest which can (and in my opinion) should bring us together. At first I think there was actually some scepticism and heightened stereotyping between the three groups. That has disappeared as friendships grew and members from each group began to interact with fellow Balts. I recently attended the funeral of an Estonian-American. At the viewing I saw Lithuanian and Latvian Americans from our picnic group. This may not have occured 10 years ago. I also find great interest in the recent findings of the DNA and genetics researchers (University of Helsinki and others)
who state that the three Baltic peoples are more closely related to each other than to any surrounding population groups. The above in no way has diminished my pride in family roots (all Lithuanian grandparents). I think this is true for all in our Baltic Picnic group.
May 9, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Samagonas: My maternal grandfather left Lithuania a few years before the outbreak of WWI. He related many interesting tales of life in the Lithuanian countryside. Tales of wolves, horse behavior, net fishing in the lakes and encounters with the Circassian Cossaks who “policed” Lithuania for the Czar. I remember an account of a snake cure. A very sick fellow was attended to by a local herbalist. The cure administered was a powder of dried snake. My grandfather noted that the patient lost all body hair for a time - yet he was cured of his illness.
May 11, 2008 at 5:42 am
Vince,
Glad to hear stories about the Balts getting together in Columbus, Ohio!
The DNA finding don’t suprise me at all either. Even the Russians and Belorusians have some Baltic DNA flowing through their veins. Though I don’t think most would be inclined to beleive it! (Or admit it!)