Pic(k) of the Week: Lietuvos kryžius

The Lietuvos kryžius (“Lithuanian Cross”) is a stylized folk art cross commonly found in Lithuania, used for funerals and as votive offerings. The cross marries Lithuanian pagan and Christian symbolism, and is derived from pre-Christian renditions of the cosmic tree. Most images include solar and lunar symbolism, such as sun’s rays and crescent moons, as well as tree branches, etc.

—Symbol Dictionary

In five days, the Republic of Lithuania —Lietuva— will commemorate the start of its 100th year of its (modern) independence. Lietuvos valstybės atkūrimo diena —the Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania— commemorates the date, 16 February 1918, on which the Council of Lithuania proclaimed the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, with Vilnius as its capital.

My name is Thomas Cizauskas. I pronounce my surname as: "chiz OWs cuss." In the early twentieth century, my grandparents, maternal and paternal, were IMMIGRANTS to the USA from Czarist pre-independent Lithuania. My father's father, my mother's father, and my father retained the Lithuanian spelling (minus diacriticals) of their family names. I am proud of that heritage. I am thankful for those Americans who welcomed my forebears here.

-----more-----

• This is a photograph of a photograph. The original was photographed by my brother, Albert Cizauskas, Jr. All rights reserved.
• Read a historical sketch of Lithuania: here.


• Pic(k) of the Week: one in a weekly series of photos taken (or noted) by me, posted on Saturdays, and often, but not always (as is the case today), with a good fermentable as the subject.
• Camera: Olympus Pen E-PL1.
• Commercial reproduction requires explicit permission, as per Creative Commons.


• For more from YFGF:
  • Follow on Twitter: @Cizauskas.
  • Like on Facebook: YoursForGoodFermentables.
  • Follow on Flickr: Cizauskas.
  • Follow on Instagram: @tcizauskas.