National symbols of Lithuania
On the other hand, in keeping with the Soviet policy of encouraging what were seen as harmless expressions of ethnic identity, Lithuanian national costumes were often featured on postal stamps and elsewhere.
Yellow represents the sun, light, and goodness, green symbolizes the beauty of nature, freedom, and hope, and red stands for the land, courage, and the blood spilled for Lithuania.
The heraldic shield features a red field with an armoured knight on a white horse holding a silver sword aloft in his right hand.
Former United States NFL player Joe Jurevicius bears a Vytis prominently tattooed on his arm as a symbol of his Lithuanian ancestry.
Lietuva brangi (Precious Lithuania), written by the poet Maironis, is another important song sometimes called the unofficial national anthem.
Many public events, encouraged by authoritarian regime of President Antanas Smetona were held in 1930, generating a cult of Vytautas.
In addition to its formal use in churches, the cross in Lithuania long ago became a frequent subject of folk art.
Lietuviškas kryžius is a stylized folk art cross put up at crossroads, in cemeteries, near houses, and as votive offerings in churches.
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.
The art of Lithuanian cross crafting was acknowledged as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001 by UNESCO.
The Order of the Cross of Vytis is a Lithuanian Presidential Award conferred on those who have defended Lithuania's freedom and independence.
One legend has it that Jesus traveled throughout the world wearing his crown of thorns; during his journeys, he sometimes sat on stones near the road and wept.
After his death, his relics in Vilnius became a frequent destination of pilgrims; St. Casimir's Fair developed around these pilgrimages, became an annual event, and is still held today.
Stork Day is celebrated on March 25 with various archaic rituals: gifts for children, attributed to the storks, such as fruits, chocolates, pencils, and dyed eggs, are hung on tree branches and fences; snakes are caught, killed and buried under the doorstep; straw fires are lit.
According to a popular legend, an iron wolf in Gediminas' dream encouraged the Grand Duke to establish Vilnius and make the city his capital.
The Iron Wolf Mechanised Infantry Brigade (motorizuotoji pėstininkų brigada 'Geležinis vilkas') is now the core unit of the Lithuanian Army.
The bear is an ancient symbol of Samogitia, one of the regions of Lithuania, and appears in the coat of arms of Šiauliai district.
Trees of special significance include oak (ąžuolas), birch (beržas), linden (liepa), and spruce (eglė).
During the 1980s basketball was an important outlet of national feelings, particularly when the country's favorite team, Žalgiris Kaunas, played against CSKA Moscow in the finals of the Soviet Union league.
The 1992 and 1996 basketball teams, which were partially sponsored by the Grateful Dead, sported red, yellow, and green tie-died T-shirts echoing the colors of the flag, featuring the now-trademarked Slam Dunking Skeleton created by New York sports artist Greg Speirs.
