About Lithuania
If you really want to know Lithuania, you must first begin to get to know its people. Most Lithuanians are very sincere, hospitable and helpful, and, in fact, we expect the same treatment in return from our quests. Lithuanians are long-lived people, so, if you have an opportunity to talk to people of older generation, you will bring back to your country many interesting stories and experiences.
Quick Facts
The majority of Lithuania’s population is Lithuanian-speaking Lithuanians who are still buying goods and services in their national currency - the litas. We have at least 10 national holidays, on which most offices and business establishments of the country are closed – we like to celebrate. What else? Women in our country live longer than men and our capital is not Riga or Tallinn, but Vilnius.
History
We are proud of our history and keep telling our foreign guests about things which make us tingle inside and gather our spirits, fill us with strength and faith and which make us unique and known worldwide. Although our history dates back to more than a 1 000 years ago, we have lived in the present territory of Lithuania much longer – about 12 000 years.
Government & Politics
Lithuania is an independent democratic republic with a multi-party parliament. Our state's legislative power is vested in the Seimas (as we call our Parliament), the executive - in the Government. Lithuania’s foreign policy is carried out by the President. We have had four of them after the restoration of the Independence in 1990. One of them was Valdas Adamkus who was elected for two terms.
Lithuanian Language
Lithuanian is the oldest living Indo-European language. Our language belongs to the Baltic language group. Although there are three Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – only two of them speak in languages of the Baltic group: Lithuanians and Latvians. We are very proud to have retained our language, despite the worst adversities it faced.
Geography & Climate
We invite you to visit Lithuania in different seasons of the year to see how different our country looks year-round: we know what a sunny spring, hot summer, long and warm autumn and a nippy winter are like. We also know what hot sun, soaking rain, strong wind and winter blizzard is like. If you like contrasts, visit us in January and July – the coldest and hottest months of the year.
Flora & Fauna
At some point on your visit to Lithuania you are bound to hear about storks. Lithuania has the highest density of white stork population in Europe with 13 000 pairs. That is why the stork is our country’s national bird. All Europe should be grateful - if it were not for so many storks breeding in our country, who would bring babies to new European parents?
Famous Lithuanians
What is an interesting topic to discuss with Lithuanians who speak the most archaic living Indo-European language? No, you will not need to speak Lithuanian, unless you'd be willing to do so. We suggest some topics for a lively conversation with the Northern Italians - as we are sometimes called because of our emotional nature - about things that have made us famous worldwide.
