The Baltic Countries:
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The Hill of Crosses is located in central Lithuania. During the Soviet occupation, the government completely destroyed the hill in 1961, then again in 1973 and 1975, but people continued to erect crosses. In 1980 further destruction of the crosses stopped. It is customary for people to leave a cross and pray when visiting the site. Photo by Kerry Stromberg.

The three Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, are often grouped together as the Baltic States, or Baltic Nations. Although they each are small in territory and population, they have shown n incredible ability to hold on to their unique languages and cultures for several thousand years.

Latvian and Lithuanian are related languages within the broad Indo-European language family. They are considered to be among the oldest living languages in continuous use. Estonians are not Indo-Europeans. Linguistically, they are related to the Finns and Hungarians, with whom they make up the Finno-Ugric language family.

Historically, all three Baltic cultures depended mainly on agriculture. Fishing also was important near the seacoast. All three countries also have a great deal of forest land with many lakes. The different types of landscapes led o the development of diverse local cultures.

In the resort town of Palanga, on the Baltic Sea, vacationers flock to the beach to watch the sun set. It is traditional to throw a coin into the sea and make a wish to return. Photo by Kerry Stromberg

Music and song play an important role in the lives of Baltic people. Song lyics passed down through genereations serve as a unifying force for the people. Nationwide song festivals are organized regularly, and young and old in the tens of thousands join to celebrate their heritage and cultur. Accordions, flutes, and simple percussion instruments are all found in traditional music. A wooden stringed instrument, similar to the zither, is considered a "national" instrument for all three countries. The Estonian kannel, the Latvian kokles, and the Lithuanian kankles, though similar in design, have distinctive styles.

The Feast of St. John, on June 24th, pictured here in Estonia, celebrates the summer solstice in all three countries. A bonfire is lit on a hill, and dancing and singing coninue all night. Photo by Kaido Haagen

Until recent times, political developments affected the countries differently, especially in the area of religion. By the 14^th century, German crusaders conquered Estonia and Latvia, and as a result the two countries are primarily Lutheran. But in Lithuania, in the 13^th century, through a royal marriage arrangement with Poland, the population was converted to Roman Catholicism. During the Soviet occupation religious expression was banned, and churches were often closed or turned into galleries, museums, or even warehouses. Today, many churches have been restored as houses of worship.

This program has been sponsored by the Estonian Government, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Estonian National Council of Folklore, the Latvian Government, the American Latvian Association, the Latvian Ministry of Culture, the Lithuanian Government, and the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture.