Culture and Customs of the Baltic States (Culture and Customs of Europe) - Hardcover

Ph.D., Kevin C. O'Connor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313331251 ISBN 13: 9780313331251

Publisher: Greenwood, 2006

Synopsis

The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are thriving after hundreds of years of German colonization, numerous wars of conquest, and demographic Russification. Their cultures have survived, perhaps through a conscious effort to sustain many of their most ancient customs and traditions. Though the Baltic States are responding to modern and postmodern international trends, contemporary developments in the region's cultural life are part of an ongoing conversation about the way in which the Balts understand their histories, destinies, and national identities. This timely overview of the reemerging states portrays the Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians as they see themselves―through a historical lens.

The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are thriving after hundreds of years of German colonization, numerous wars of conquest, and demographic Russification. Their cultures have survived, perhaps through a conscious effort to sustain many of their most ancient customs and traditions. Though the Baltic States are responding to modern and postmodern international trends, contemporary developments in the region's cultural life are part of an ongoing conversation about the way in which the Balts understand their own histories, destines, and national identities. This timely overview of the reemerging states portrays the Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians as they see themselves―through a historical lens.

The approach in each of the topical chapters is to generalize what is common among the three states and then to focus on each country in turn. Chapters on the land, people, and history; religion; marriage, family, gender, and education; holidays, cuisine, and leisure activities; language, folklore, and literature; media and cinema; performing arts; and art are a superb introduction to the Baltics and to the unique aspects of the countries. Lithuania's culture has been heavily influenced by Poland, and the capital, Vilnius, was a thriving center of Jewish learning until the Nazi years. Latvia is the most ethnically diverse and Russian-influenced. Estonia sees itself as a European country, indeed, Scandinavian.

About this title

Book Description:

This is a one-stop authoritative resource for understanding the sociocultural life of the reemerging Baltic States.

About the Author:

KEVIN O'CONNOR is Assistant Professor of History at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. He is also the author of The History of the Baltic States (Greenwood, 2003).

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0313331251
• ISBN 13: 9780313331251
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 300