Lithuania
Lithuania
- Capital
- Vilnius
- Population
- 2,794,700
- Region
- Europe
- Languages
- Lithuanian
Lithuania is famously home to the Stelmužė Oak, which is one of the oldest living trees in Europe and has survived since the Crusades. The country also boasts a unique official scent called the Scent of Lithuania, which combines notes of wild flowers, ginger, raspberry, and sandalwood to capture the nation's identity in a bottle. Furthermore, the capital of Vilnius contains the self-proclaimed independent Republic of Užupis, a bohemian district with its own constitution, president, and flag.
Currency
Lithuania currently uses the Euro, denoted by the ISO code EUR. Before adopting the Euro in 2015, the nation used the Litas, a currency that originally debuted in 1922 and was named after the country's name to foster a sense of national identity after the first World War.
Flag symbolism
The Lithuanian flag consists of three horizontal stripes in yellow, green, and red. The top yellow stripe signifies the sun, light, and the prosperity of the agricultural landscape. The central green stripe represents the country's vast forests, hope, and the vitality of nature. Finally, the bottom red stripe symbolizes the courage of the people and the blood shed over centuries in the pursuit of freedom and independence.
Emblem history
The coat of arms, known as the Vytis, features a white armored knight on a galloping horse against a red shield. This symbol dates back to the 14th century and is one of the oldest continuous state emblems in Europe. The knight holds a silver sword and a blue shield decorated with a gold double cross, which was the personal insignia of the Jagiellonian dynasty. It represents a defender of the homeland chasing away enemies and is a core symbol of Lithuanian national endurance.