Although Lithuania is not a land of stones, Lithuanians love them – they are often used to commemorate various historical events or people. Although stone is one of the most durable materials, not all stone monuments have survived. For example, on 15 July 1960, a stone commemorating the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Žalgiris (also known as the Battle of Grunwald or Tannenberg) was unveiled on Gedimino Hill. It was decorated with the inscription’ Žalgiris 1410’, with ‘Grunvald’ and the date ’15 July 1960’ in Cyrillic below. After the restoration of independence, the commemorative stone was transferred to the collections of the National Museum.
Stones are also frequently found in folklore, and there are some sayings about stones. Lithuanians might utter, “to carry a stone next to one’s bosom” when they are angry with someone (in the sense of having a grudge against somebody), or “throw stones into someone else’s garden” when someone unwelcomingly interferes in something that is not their concern. And sometimes, we are patient because we know from the proverb that “make a hole in a rock drop by drop” or “drop by drop; eventually, the water will make a hole in the stone” (the saying sounds better in Lithuanian as it has a pithy rhythm and rhyme!).
