Lithuanian cross crafting ( lt, Lietuvos kryždirbystė) is a traditional Lithuanian art of crafting

cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

es. The making of altars and crosses is an important part of

Lithuanian culture Culture of Lithuania combines an indigenous heritage, represented by the unique Lithuanian language, with Nordic cultural aspects and Christian traditions resulting from historical ties with Poland. Although linguistic resemblances represent st ...

. Lithuanian traditional crosses are part of the people's

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

religion. Approximately since Lithuania became a part of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

in the 19th century, these crosses have become a symbol of the

Lithuanian people Lithuanians ( lt, lietuviai) are a Baltic ethnic group. They are native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,378,118 people. Another million or two make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Unite ...

. The crosses are intricately carved of

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

wood, and sometimes incorporate iron elements as well. Their craftsmen, known as ''kryždirbiai'', travel across the country. The most renowned Lithuanian cross crafter and god carver is the self-taught Vincas Svirskis (1835–1916), whose crosses, once seen across central Lithuania, are now kept in national museums. The stylized crosses, ''Lietuviškasis kryžius'', are put up along roadsides, in cemeteries, near houses and as votive offerings in churches. The crosses combine elements of architecture, sculpture, blacksmith art, and painting. One to five meters high, they often feature floral or geometric symbols, motifs of the sun, birds and the tree of life; they are sometimes adorned with small statues. To plead for grace or to express gratitude, the crosses are built as memorials to the dead or as the signs of spiritual protection at certain places. Even today crosses are built to mark the places of former settlements or farmsteads, places of death by homicide or accident, in memory of deceased people or groups of people, significant events and anniversaries, as protection for road travelers and adornment of sacred sites. The Hill of Crosses holds a large collection of the pieces. Lithuanian cross crafting has been included in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of 2001 by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

. Image:Krizius_1.jpg Image:Krizius_2.jpg Image:Krizius_3.jpg Intricate cross crafting of wood, stone or metal, as well as elaborate

jewelry Jewellery ( UK) or jewelry ( U.S.) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes. From a w ...

crosses is known in other cultures as well. Examples are Celtic crosses,

Ethiopian cross Ethiopian crosses, Abyssinian crosses, or Ethiopian-Eritrean crosses are a grouping of Christian cross variants that are symbols of Christianity in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and among Ethiopians and Eritreans. Their elaborate, stylized design is marked ...

es and Armenian crosses.

Footnotes

References

Cross-crafting
Lithuanian National Culture Centre.
Lithuania cross-makers keep tradition alive

Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency was esta ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Cross Crafting Christianity in Lithuania Cross crafting Lithuanian folk art Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity National symbols of Lithuania Woodcarving Votive offering Monumental crosses

See also

Footnotes

References