The land of the Baltic is a part of the East European Plain that takes up much of Europe to the Ural Mountains. The Baltic landscape is made up of numerous marshes, swamps and more than seven thousand lakes. The Neman and Western Dvina Rivers run through this area as well. The last Pleistocene glaciations have influenced the geology of this region. Forests composed mainly of birches and conifers occupy over one-third of the region. The climate of the region is generally moderate, with average rainfall. The temperature ranges from 19 degress Farenheit in the winter months to 61degrees Farenheit in the summer months.
Humans have occupied the Baltic region for a very long time. Now occupying states of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia the land has been under constant change in leadership. During the 18th century the region was under the control of the Russian Empire, which folded during the 1917 Revolution. The land gained independence for a short time, from the end of the Revolution in 1917 to the 1940's. The Soviet Union forcibly made the Baltic States join the USSR as a part of the constituent republic in 1940. Involvement with the Soviet Union led to urbanization and industrialization with over seventy percent of the population living in cities, where up until the 1940's it was the opposite with two-thirds living in the rural areas as farmers. The Soviet influence reshaped the settlement ways of the Baltic people, by adapting the economic and political ways of the USSR. It was not until September 6, 1991 that the Baltic states gained recognizable independence.
The language of the Baltic people is closely related to the language of the Slavic and German people. Old Prussian is the oldest form of the Baltic language dating to sixteenth century catechisms, and falls between the East and Slavic forms. Some key features are the final -n , use of neuter gender in the nouns, and use of ai and ei words.
The religion practices stem from the development of the language. Folklore has the greatest amount of information about the practices of the early Baltic's, since the land has been under control by other nations until the past decade. The religion has three main features which help in its understanding; first is the use of sky gods, Perkons for thunder, Saule the sun god, and Meness the moon. Secondly, they rely on destiny or luck of fate for how they live their life. The goddess "Laima" is responsible for deciding the pattern that each individual life will take. Finally, the Baltic's believe in the underworld and the "Earthmother" who oversees the welfare of the people. Important rituals, such as birth and death ceremonies, weddings and harvest festivals are done in the bathhouses, as they are termed sacred places. These festivities last for several days and many are invited. The Baltic region has been, for the past decade, adjusting to its new, total independence.
References:
"Baltic." Encyclopedia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com 6 November 2000.
Vardys, Stanley. The Baltic States in Peace and War. University of Pennsylvania State University Press 1978.
By, Karen Pearson-Roden