Many years ago, Lithuanians living in San Diego came together to meet, to eat and talk and socialize giving birth to the “San Diego Lithuanian American Club”.  In 1974 this club became the “House of Lithuania”, joining the international community at the House of Pacific Relations.

Hall of Nations Sunday Hosting:
Several times a year the House of Lithuania presents video programs about Lithuania in the Hall of Nations from 12 Noon to 4:00 pm on a Sunday.  Lithuanian arts and crafts, books, literature and a collection of beautiful amber jewelry, for which the Baltic Countries are famous, are also displayed at the open houses.

Culture:
Lithuania was the last European country to convert to Christianity.  Their pagan roots are still evident in its holiday traditions, old myths and folk tales.  The people of Lithuania have lived a rural, agriculturally based existence for many centuries.  This is reflected in the gentle Lithuanian folk dances, which often have agrarian themes.  Historically a multi-cultural center, its capital, Vilnius, was once called the “Jerusalem of the North”, because it was a great center of Jewish learning and culture.

Lawn Program:
Each year in July, “The House of Lithuania” hosts their annual Lawn Program. The entertainment is offered by their own “Jura” dancers, who display such original dances as a hat dance, a stately three-step, the wooden shoe dance and a lively summerfest polka.  The Performing Folk Dancers of Balboa Park add to the festivities with dances like the polka from the Dzukija region, the flirt, the little goats, the twirler and the windmill.  Vocal and instrumental presentations complete the variety of the festival. The foods you will be able to enjoy are sausages with Lithuanian style sauerkraut, kugelis (potato pudding) and lemonade.

Ethnic Food Fair: 
Titus Samys, founding president of the House of Lithuania, first proposed the Ethnic Food Fair when president of the House of Pacific Relations (1980 & 1981). On this day the House of Lithuania presents the summer treat of cold Lithuanian beet soup.

December Holidays:
The feature presentation is hot apple cider and a variety of special cookies.

The modern Lithuanian nation began with the settling of Indo-European tribes on the shores of the Baltic Sea several millennia ago.  The birth of Lithuania as a European nation is commemorated on July 6th.  This day marks the crowning of the first and only King who ever ruled this country.  Mindaugas (1226-1263), a Lithuanian prince, united various Baltic tribes and princes into a single state.  The symbol of the White Knight  represents the defeat of the Teutonic Crusaders, who came from the West. 

Its capital today, Vilnius, was founded in the early 14th century, after the Grand Duke Gediminas dreamt of an iron wolf while on a hunting trip. The Pillars or Columns of Gediminas is the symbol of the family of rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which extended from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Lithuania is a country of gently rolling hills, many forests, rivers, streams and lakes.   Its principal resource is agricultural land.  Amber, found on the shores of the Baltic, has been called the “Lithuanian Gold” and has been a major trade item since Roman times.

The House of Lithuania members are of all ages, and all backgrounds.  Some speak Lithuanian, others not.  Some were born in America and some in Lithuania.  Others came as children after WWII, and others are new immigrants. The House relies on all its members to bring their talents and skills to promote an understanding of what is and where is Lithuania.

Land Area: 65,200 sq km                              
Population:  3,575,439 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City: Vilnius                                        
Language:  Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Religion:  Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Form of Government: parliamentary democracy
Economy: Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has grown rapidly since rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 3.7% in 2006, while wages grew 17.6%, contributing to rising inflation. Exports and imports continue to grow strongly, and the current account deficit rose to nearly 10% of GDP in 2006.
Export: mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)

Source: The World Factbook - Lithuania