Acta Historica Universitatis Klaipedensis

The article is devoted to the ethnological and the religious culture history research results on the cult of the Hills of Crosses in Lithuania and Poland. It is typical to have still preserved the cult of the Hill of Crosses both in Lithuania and Poland. The Hill of Crosses in Lithuania is not far from the Šiauliai city, while in Poland – it is in Grabarka localities. The research allows us to make the conclusions about the identities (geographical situation, the origin of the cult, the heritage of the religious culture, and rituals), peculiarities (Catholic and Orthodox sanctuaries) and rituals here. The hypothesis was raised that the cult of the Hill of the Crosses in Lithuania and in Poland is a Christian symbol of the fights for religion and freedom.

The presented here article analyses the features of a language occurring in the border. The results were achieved by using the ethno-linguistic method, which is based on the systematic analysis of the ritual structure and vocabulary. The object of the analysis was a little fragment of the spiritual culture – the winter period of the ritual year. The structure of the ritual was established according to the methodology as well as the terminology of rituals, which includes several lexical-semantic microfields, was analyzed. The research was carried out nearby Vilnius (region of Vilnius, partly Širvintai and Molėtai) and also in the regions close to Byelorussia (Šalčininkai and Švenčionys).

The present article analyses the features of a language occurring in the border. The results were. Based on field research material and analysis of different authors the article analysis characteristics of Southeast Lithuanian Polish bridal coronet twinning and materials used for coronet. Customs of the first wedding day evening related to the symbol are analyzed. The task is to determine whether in Lithuanian Polish weddings bridal coronet is distinctive example of Lithuanian Polish wedding traditions or it is synthesis of Polish and Lithuanian wedding ceremony and customs. It is concluded that distinctive traditions of use of material for Southeastern Lithuanian Polish wedding coronet are developing. Also Lithuanian customs are taken over and treated meaningfully. Therefore during the wedding through symbol it is aimed to highlight ethno-cultural distinction of Southeastern Lithuanian population

The article is devoted to present the results of ethnomusicological research on parallels in folk song melodies of the Prussian ethnic minorities: Lietuvininkai, Masurians, Kashubians. In the history of ethnic groups of the south part of the West Prussia and East Prussia speaking dialects of the Polish language – Kashubs and Masurs – you may distinguish quite a lot of parallels with the history of the lietuvininkai (residents of Lithuania Minor). A more detailed analysis of the melodies of investigated ethnic groups permits to state that the melodies of the lietuvininkai evidently differ from Polish melodies by the character of intonation, rhythm and performance. Nevertheless, they have intonation complexes, rhythmic elements that are alien to the melodic lines of the lietuvininkai folk songs and could be absorbed from the Polish ethnic music.

The article is devoted to the results of ethno-musicological research on historical parallels between the publication and studies of Lithuanian and Polish folk songs. Lithuanian and Polish folk songs represent significant integral part of the musical folklore of those nations. They reflect common national and regional features of the world outlook and the mode of artistic expression of the folklore performers in different countries. Both Lithuanian and Polish folk songs have been published in different publications starting with the 18th century, and from the 19th century they started appearing in reputable many-volume collections of songs. Those were abundant, diverse, and manifold folklore materials that have been an independent object of research for several centuries. However, comparative studies of folk songs of both nations, of their lyrics and melodies, represent a totally new field of study.