Lithuania is the country, located at the western end of the East European Plain, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. State name – Republic of Lithuania.

 

State emblem – the white Vytis in the red field.

National Flag description – three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red. The colours of the flag symbolize: yellow – the sun, light and prosperity; green – the Lithuanian landscape, hope and joy; red – the colour of earth, life and blood. It symbolizes the nations’ courage and tenacity in the struggle for freedom. The state flag was created in 1918.

 

National Anthem – “The National Song” by V. Kudirka.

 

Official language – Lithuanian. It is an Indo – European, non – Slavic and non – Germanic language.

 

Capital – Vilnius. Major cities – Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys.

 

Basic law – the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania adopted 25 October 1992.

 

Background: Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by the USSR in 1940. In March of 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence.

 

Government – Executive branch: chief of state – President, head of government – Premier. Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas. The Seimas consists of 141 Seimas members, representatives of the People, elected directly or by secret ballot for a four – year term.

 

National currency – Litas (LTL; 1 LTL = 100 ct). Exchange rate - 1 EUR = 3,4528 LTL.

 

 

National Holidays (2008):

-         1 JAN – New Year’s Day

-         16 FEB – National Day – Independence Day

-         11 MAR – Restoration of Lithuania’s Statehood

-         23 MARCH – Easter

-         1 MAY – International Labour Day

-         4 MAY – Mother’s Day

-         24 JUN – Midsummer Day

-         6 JUL – Day of Statehood

-         15 AUG – Day of Assumption

-         1 NOV – All Saint’s Day

-         25, 26 DEC – Christmas Days

Population – 3,378,600 (2007). Ethnic groups – Lithuanians 83,45%, Russians 6,31%, Polish 6,74%, Belarusians 1,23%, Ukrainians 0,65%, other 1,62%.

 

Major religion – Roman Catholics.

Neighbour States – North border with Latvia, East border with Belarus, South border with Poland, Southwest border with Russia.

 

Lithuania is in the Central European Time Zone: GMT + 2 hours in winter, GMT + 1 hour in summer.

 

 

Šiauliai is located in the northern part of Lithuania. It was first mentioned in the chronicles on the 22 September 1236. The Livonian Order was destroyed in this battle (Sun Battle). Some claim this is why Šiauliai is known as the City of Sun. The Victory of Lithuanians and their allies in this battle is a very important event in the history of the State of Lithuania. The Sun Clock Square was arranged in 1986 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of this victory. On this occasion the Hunter sculpture was built too. It symbolizes the origin of the town’s name. The town got its name from soldiers and hunters who lived there.

 

The whole area of the city is 81.13 sq. km. According to the area Šiauliai is the third biggest town, according to the number of inhabitants (130.020 inhabitants) it is the fourth.

 

Šiauliai is famous for Bubiai Mound 15 km from Šiauliai known for its wooden castle which was burnt by Crusaders, Salduve Mound which is in the Eastern part of the town. Domantai-Jurgaiciai Mound is a sacred place, its other  name is the Hill of Crosses.

 

The town sometimes flourished, sometimes suffered from wars, plague, and fires. Today it is the largest cultural, industrial and scientific centre in Northern Lithuania.