Lithuania

One thing you might notice about your Lithuanian student is a tendency to appear stoic or reserved. In Lithuania, it is common to keep one’s personal emotions hidden for privacy. Lithuanians also tend to speak more softly than Americans.

Hierarchy is recognized and valued in Lithuania, and this extends into the home. Although men and women have fairly equal roles in a Lithuanian family, with both parents often working and sharing responsibilities around the house, the father is still typically seen as the head of the household.

Meals are an important leisure and social activity in Lithuania, and some businesses will even shut down during lunch to allow employees time to fully enjoy their meal, as lunch is considered the most important meals of the day.

As in many Eastern European cultures, Lithuanians celebrate name days rather than birthdays. This is one example of the Catholic Church’s historic influence on the culture, as name days are based on the feast days of Catholic saints. This influence can also be seen in many holidays that stem from old Catholic traditions. Today, just under 80 percent of the population identifies as Roman Catholic.

Fun Fact: In Lithuania, Easter eggs come from Granny Easter. Bunnies just help paint the eggs.