litwini

Litwini, the Polish term for Lithuanians, are the Baltic ethnolinguistic group native to the area of present-day Lithuania. They form the majority population of the country and are identified by the Lithuanian self-designation Lietuviai. Their language, Lithuanian, is a living member of the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family and is noted for its conservatism among Indo-European languages. Lithuanian has two main dialect groups, Aukštaitian and Samogitian, with several subdialects and a rich traditional vocabulary.

Historically, Lithuanians formed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 13th century, which became one of Europe’s largest states and later entered a dynastic union with Poland in 1569 that created the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. After the partitions of the Commonwealth at the end of the 18th century, Lithuanian territories came under the Russian Empire. The country declared independence in 1918, endured occupation during World War II, and restored independence in 1990, subsequently joining the European Union and NATO in 2004. There are minority Lithuanians in neighboring countries such as Poland, Belarus, and Russia, and a sizeable global diaspora in North America, Western Europe, and Australasia.

Culture in Lithuania blends Roman Catholic tradition with older folk customs. Lithuanian literature, music, and art have contributed to national identity, and traditional crafts, festivals, and a language revival have helped preserve the language and heritage. In modern times Lithuanians participate in civic life through national institutions and a broad network of community organizations at home and abroad.

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