Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Lithuania

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Lithuania.

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Did You Know?

22 curious facts about Lithuania.

When a child loses a tooth they keep their tooth as a keepsake.
There are more than one million Lithuanians living in the United States, Canada, South America, the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany and Australia. More than 150,000 Lithuanians live in Russia and other Eastern European countries.
Amber, Lithuania's gold,” washes up on the Curonian Spit. Amber is formed from the resin of ancient trees that lived 40 to 55 million years ago. Over time, the resin hardens into golden or red translucent deposits, some of which contain insects that were trapped in the resin when it hardened. Amber is used to make jewellery.
Lithuanian forests play an important part in regional folk tales. During times of war, the forests were a safe haven for those in danger. The oak tree was worshipped during pre-Christian times and today represents longevity and strength. Lithuanians often plant oak trees to mark important occasions.

The current Lithuanian president, Valdas Adamkus, elected in 1998, emigrated from Lithuania to the United States in 1944. He spent most of his adult life working in Chicago for the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States before returning to Lithuania.
In the past, Lithuanians held a wake when someone died. For the entire night before the burial of the body, hymns and laments were sung for the soul of the deceased.
Women in Lithuania achieved full political rights much earlier than women in Canada. As soon as independence was proclaimed in 1918, women and men had equal voting and legal rights. The chair of the first Lithuanian parliament in 1920 was a woman and women have played an active role in parliament and local governments.
As soon as independence was proclaimed in 1918, women and men had equal voting and legal rights. The chair of the first Lithuanian parliament in 1920 was a woman and women have played an active role in parliament and local governments.
Vida Venckiene, a cross-country skier, won the first gold medal of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, skiing under the Soviet flag. At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Romas Ubartas took home a gold for discus. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Daina Gudzinervièiþte won a gold medal for trap shooting and Virgilijus Alekna won gold for discus throwing.
In the 16th century, mineral springs were discovered at Druskininkai on the Nemunas River and the town became a health resort. People still travel to these springs to seek treatment for ailments related to the digestive, circulatory and nervous systems.

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