SOCIAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WATER

Klaipėda• Klaipėda is one of the biggest cities in Lithuania.

There is a big sea port.• Maritime museum: During the 20 years of the

museum’s lifetime it has been visited by 9 million

visitors. There are about 956 live animals in the

museum.• There are a 1000 seats hall and a big pool for sea

lions and dolphins` shows. It is also famous for

dolphin therapy for kids having different mental

and physical diseases.

LITHUANIALithuania is called a land of wood and water. Water affects all facets of our life. Our country is located on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.

Curonian Lagoon• The Curonian Lagoon - body of water in the

Baltic Sea area. The Lagoon was formed

about 10 thousand years ago when the wind

and the waves piled up a narrow Curonian

Spit. • One of the towns in Curonian Lagoon is

called Neringa. It’s a popular seaside resort in

Lithuania.

• The biggest attraction in there is a Horse

lighthouse.

Nida• Nida is the best holiday

resort. Tourists like Nida very much because of its old fishermen homesteads, cozy courtyards, beautiful bay along the coast, overseen by pine forests and its quietness.

Rivers• The three largest cities in Lithuania have a ready access to water. Vilnius has access to Nemunas.Kaunas has access to Neris.Nemunas and Neris are the biggest rivers in Lithuania.Our two largest cities Kaunas and Vilnius are built at those rivers. People can enjoy an active social life near water in all the seasons of the year. Some of the most spectacular castles where built on islands or spits of land extending into seas or rivers. Water defended the castle well.

Lakes• Lithuania is a laky country: our country has

more than 3,000 lakes. You can find many lakes surrounded by forests.

• Hiking, swimming, canoeing and rafting on Lithuanian lakes and rivers are very entertaining.

Resorts• SPA centers in Lithuania provide high quality

beauty and medical treatments. Druskininkai is one of Lithuania’s oldest resorts. There is a Dancing Fountain accompanied by music and a light show.

Palanga• Palanga is famous for its golden sandy beaches

and beautiful dunes. It has a Sea bridge, which is a great place to watch the fury of the storms or the spectacular sunsets into the sea.

Watermills• The water Mills have decorated

Lithuania’s landscape and had influence on the country’s technological development and economics. Mills were used to grind grains. Even today we can see some of them in Lithuania which nowadays are turned into museums.

Water in Lithuanian traditional rites

• In the eyes of a Lithuanian, water has always been an element of expressing its true meaning. Water is the beginning of life. In our folk songs water is mentioned much more often than fire. Water for old Lithuanians was more important than fire. The world of water was like another world, but it has always been vitally connected with people.

Easter• On Easter morning, people

had to wash up with water. Then they had to bring holy water. People rushed to scoop up holy water first because if you succeed you will be happy all that year.

PentecostPentecost is celebrated on the Seventh Sunday after the Easter according to the folk calendar. It was safe to swim in rivers and lakes, especially if the water was close to churches. All these traditions are well known in Lithuania, especially appreciated by Lithuanian ancestors.

Water and animal washing

It was believed that bathing in lakes and rivers will make you look younger, help get married sooner or cure long-standing illnesses. Holy water or river water brought in special time ensured the animals were healthy and beautiful, as well as protected.

Rituals of wedding• Water is the very beginning of life. During the

wedding water was used to clean up the souls of the bride and groom. One of the oldest Lithuanian traditions was to meet the newlyweds with bread, salt and water. All of them symbolized wealth, new life beginning and eternity.

Homesteads in the countrysideMany Lithuanians stay in their country to spend

their holidays at a homestead in the countryside. Homesteads are usually situated near water – lakes or rivers. They can do activities like having a sauna or outdoor bath barrel, playing basketball or volleyball, cycling, canoeing through rivers and lakes, horseback riding and skiing. Every season is good for outdoor fun.

Lithuania‘s champions

We also have many great swimmers here. One of them is Rūta Meilutytė. From 15 years old she scored and broke many world records.

Lithuania has always been known as having its second religion- basketball. We are proud of our team Žalgiris.

Lithuania opens its eyes with hundreds of blue lakes and invites you to trek along the rivers, offers to enjoy resorts. You can hear the Baltic Sea, you can feel pat sands, flowing gently through the fingers, as well as getting some amber beads and taking it home as a

piece of Lithuania.