Colors and the Meaning of the Lithuania Flag
Flag of Lithuania consists of three equal horizontal bands, yellow (top), green (center), and red (bottom). Yellow symbolizes the Lithuanian race, the green color symbolizes the nature of Lithuania and the red color symbolizes blood.
History of the Lithuania Flag
The oldest flags with the Lithuanian identity were recorded in the 15th century by Jan Długosz at the Banderia Prutenorum. In 1410 there were two separate flags at the Battle of Grunwald. In this battle he carried a red banner depicting a knight on horseback in pursuit of the majority of the 40 regiments. This flag, known as Vytis, will eventually be used as the Lithuanian war flag and will again be used as the state flag in 2004. Another flag in the Battle of Grunwald was a red banner showing the Gediminas Column.
Vytis, also known as Pahonia, were armies from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Those who carried the Gediminas Column came from the noble families of Lithuania. By the end of the 18th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania used the Vytilis as a flag until the lands of Lithuania were added to the territory of the Russian Empire.
Yellow-Green-Red Flag
The birth of the yellow, green and red flag took place during the period when other European republics changed their flags. During this period, many European countries changed their flags, influenced by the French Revolution. It is not known who suggested the colors yellow, green and red in the Lithuanian flag, but it is thought that this idea is derived from the Lithuanian exiles, which lived in Europe or the United States in the 19th century. These three colors were frequently used in folk fabrics and traditional clothing. At the Grand Seimas of Vilnius in 1905, this flag was another favorite flag beside Vytis as the flag of the Lithuanian nation. Vytis, strongly advocated by Jonas Basanavičius, was not elected for reminding the past of Lithuania.
World War II
During World War II, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. During this period, the use of the national flag was prohibited. Two flags were used by Lithuania (1944-1989) during the Soviet occupation. The first of these flags were ‘Lithuania USSR’ on a red ground. This flag was replaced by the last flag used by the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1953. The second flag is a green and white stripe on a red background, and at the top left corner is a symbol of hammer and sickle.
In 1988, Lithuania’s movement towards independence was strengthened, while the Lithuanian Soviet changed Article 168 of the Constitution of the Lithuanian USSR and re-adopted the pre-soviet flag as the national flag. A rectangular flag with three equal lengths of horizontal stripes is defined as tri-color: top yellow, middle green, bottom red. After independence from the Soviet Union, the tricolor flag was written in the new Lithuanian Constitution, adopted in 1992 by a referendum. In this constitution, the flag’s aspect ratio was not specified until 2004, and therefore, on 8 July 2004, the law on the national flag and other flags were revised.
Neighboring Countries of Lithuania
Lithuania, located in northern Europe, one of the three Baltic states, is neighboring Russia with Kaliningrad in the north, Latvia in the south, Belarus in the southeast and Poland in the west.
Main Characteristics of Lithuania
Lithuania is a small country that attracts attention with its architecture, historical structures, entertainment life, unspoiled nature, and coast. The largest city and capital of the country is Vilnius. In 2009 it was elected the cultural capital of Europe. In addition to the official language of Lithuanian, English, and Russian are also spoken. Euro is used as currency.
A mild climate prevails. Summers are generally cool and rainy.
Garlic bread, mushrooms, and potatoes are consumed a lot. The most popular dishes are Cepelinai, a potato dish served with a yogurt sauce. Vodka is the most consumed drink.
| Country | Lithuania |
| Code | LT (LTU) |
| Calling Code | 370 |
| Capital City | Vilnius |
| Currency | lithuanian litas (LTL) |
| Emoji Symbol | 🇱🇹 |
| Highest Point | Aukštojas Hill (294 m) |
| Internet TLD | .lt |
| Population(2018) | 2,876,475 |
| Total Area | 65,300 km2 |