Baltic paganism and Lithuanian mythology

Hi! Today's video is all about the old Baltic beliefs, gods and goddesses and more! I've filmed most of the video at Mitologinis pažintinis takas in Sirvėta Regional Park, less than 100km from Vilnius.
I was surprised to see that the area still had plenty of snow, while in the meantime in Vilnius there basically aren't any traces of it left.

I'm sorry for my voice over quality this time, I had a hard time speaking after having covid-19 recently 😢 But I'm getting better 🙂

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My name is Justina and I'm travelling around all 60 municipalities of Lithuania, a small country in the north east of Europe as well as other destinations in Europe and my second home Egypt. I make detailed videos about what to do and see in those places so you can get insight of what to expect if you visit it and experience the trip with me 😊 🚗 ✈️

Join me in the trip - subscribe for more videos!

[eliastv]

I am a Lithuanian American and last year I started studying Lithuanian mythology. I will come (my family was in USA for over 100 years) to Lithuania after the pandemic and practice Romuva.

[gustavom]

I am mexican who just arrived to Lithuania for the second time. Lithuania is my true home, I love this place, these people I'm surrounded. I prayed a lot to be here. And I am so proud of Lithuanian culture

[paulmitchell]

My grandparents are from Žemaitija. I have cousins there with the same great grandparents. Thanks for this video. I would like to see more about the myths and religion of Lietuva when you have time.

[vick]

My origins also from žemaitiya. Kind of proud to have ancestors who held out so long. Nice video Ačiu! 🇺🇸🇱🇹

[donnieallums]

Very interesting stories from the past cultures ! Tell us more about the history of early religions . I do believe that people around the world are looking for something new to believe in. Maybe it’s something really old that will become new all over again! Thanks for sharing this with us out here in south Alabama USA ☮️❤️

[lds-lab.divulgazionescient]

What a nice channel! I lived 3 months in Vilnius and I loved it! Looking forward to come back!

[jenm]

Thank you, this was very interesting would love to learn more

[spaghettiman]

Very nice video, by any chance do you know if there is any good book about Lithuanian mythology in English?

[LithuaniaExplained]

Really interesting! Thanks for the great video!

[ThomasWitt-yr]

Hallo 🙋‍♂️
I am a german pagan from the Baltic Sea coast and was fooled by the German 😊 History books, which are of course Christian and after the Second World War and the loss of my homeland in East Prussia, everything is of course presented a little differently than it really was. Now, at 61, I have only just discovered the secret of the Amber Road and that we used to be a connected empire that even the North Vikings were afraid of. We inspired their shipbuilding and not the other way around. It becomes clear what it has been about for 10, 000 years and why Christianity is still used as a devastating weapon against us today, we should never find to each other again and keep on fighting so we will never ever find out the real Truth about us… 😢😎🐺

[Торука]

Вітаю! Мої родичі походять з Литви, але я живу в Україні. Мене дуже захоплює литовська міфологія та стара релігія. Чи можете порекомендувати книги на цю тему якою завгодно мовою які можна купити на Амазон? Дякую.

[karlopopovic]

Great video! Can't help but notice many similarities with slavic native religion, especially the names. Keep it up!

[cesalonsomulder]

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge about theese culture. Do you know whether or not ther eare some historiagrapers digging in Lithuanian soil in order to get som evidences from their past ages ??

[soumyadiptamajumder]

Romuva originates from the Baltic religious tradition which is comprised of the religious heritage of Lithuanians, Latvians and Prussians. The formation of this common Baltic spiritual heritage began in the very distant Indo-European past. Baltic, or Aestian, culture appeared as distinct in the second millennium BCE. The common Baltic religious centre Romuva with its leading cleric titled Krivis was founded in Rickoyott in 521. Later other important regional Baltic religious centres called Romuvas emerged in different Baltic lands, including Lithuania. One of the most important centres of the Baltic faith was flourishing since time immemorial in the valley of Šventaragis (Holy-horn) in Vilnius. Since 1250, this centre was reformed by the will of Grand Duke Šventaragis and it became the central Baltic sanctuary in Lithuania. As the religious institutions of the Baltic faith in Lithuania started to be destroyed as part of the Christian efforts, the religious practice less and less influenced by Vaidilas was gradually focused on communal and individual cults and it was nourished up to the 20th century by means of ethnic traditions passed from generation to generation in this form.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the significant value of Romuva and the Baltic faith was recognised in the works by Vydūnas. In the light of the ideas of J. Basanavičius, J. G. Beržauskis-Klausutis and others, the institutions of the Baltic faith were re-established in the pre-war independent Lithuania: the community of Romuva (public-spirited persons) was formed in 1930 and it was active until 1940, while the community of Ramuva was founded in 1967 and it was only in 1992 that Romuva was officially registered as a Baltic faith community for the first time. Romuva communities are active in the USA and Canada. At the end of 2001, three communities of the ancient Baltic faith from Vilnius, Kaunas and Molėtai officially merged into the Community of the Ancient Baltic Religion, though, in fact, these communities have been working in cooperation for ten years prior to that.

All leading Krivis and Vaidilas who participated noticeably in the spiritual unification of the Baltic peoples on the religious basis and in nourishing the ancient Baltic faith are recognised as spiritual leaders of the Community of the Ancient Baltic Religion.

Krivis of the Community Jonas Trinkūnas served as the spiritual leader of the Romuva religious community since 1967.

In 2014, Inija Trinkūnienė was elected as the female Krivis of Romuva.

Over the ages, various attempts were made to suppress the ancient Baltic faith and to terminate its practices. During the pre-war period of the Republic of Lithuania, the recognition of Romuva as an institution was halted by the Catholic Church, which had a considerable influence on both the political life and the government at that time. During the Soviet period, Romuva had to conceal its religious aspirations. Still, active Romuvians were repressed. It is only in the independent Lithuania that the communities of Romuva gained official recognition as religious communities. However, the union of the communities of Romuva, i.e. the Community of the Ancient Baltic Religion formed on 11 November 2001, is not fully recognised even today.

The spiritual needs of people of our faith are met in neither secondary schools nor the Lithuanian army.

The Ancient Baltic religion is a living unity of spiritual experiences and knowledge which satisfies the relevant needs of members of the community. It is a shifting and adaptive combination. The main historical shifts in the religious doctrine of the Baltic faith are covered most comprehensively in “Religious Reforms of the Balts” by G. Beresnevičius (1995) and “The Worldview of the Ancient Balts” by N. Vėlius (1983). The fostering of doctrines of the faith is currently in the hands of the Circle of Vaidilas and Krivulė.

[v.z.]

Thank you. Very interesting video. I really enjoyed your video 🌺

[RamaKrishnan-mlmt]

Before organized religions conquered spiritual space, it was a personal experiece- eternal spiritual path.Fire is a symbol of spirituality.Oldest spiritual heritage of man is rgveda.It starts with the word "fire".

[alexgabriel]

Great Review of the Lithuanian Deities! I am waiting for more clips or even longer projects from your channel. I was very impressed by the Sculptures you showed. Is each sculpture a unique piece or is there a tradition to make sculptures of mythological deities? Is there a book on Lithuanian mythology? I am well familiar with Marija Gimbutas the amazing Lithuanian archeologist who did so much for the archeology of Old Europe[Thrace, Illyria, Greece, Crete and the Italic peninsula].

[ayka]

I need info about the goddess of fate Dalia.. Please

[Vikingca]

There are a lot of parallels between the horrors that the crusaders/Sword Brothers/Teutonic order/Catholic Church worked on the Balts and the activities of the colonists in the Americas. Both endemic belief systems survived efforts to exterminate them and are now enjoying revivals. These “pagan superstitions” offer hope for values that will save Mother Earth from our own greed.

[mrjaybennett]

I though the Goddess of Fate was Dalia, the middle sister? There seems to be a lot of variation with the names of the three sisters and their roles or titles.