LTLeidinyje pateikiami konferencijoje "Aukštaičių identiteto paieškos: praeities paveldas, nūdienos problemos ir ateities perspektyvos" (Panevėžys, 2004-10-15) skaitytų pranešimų pagrindu parengti straipsniai. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Aukštaitija; Aukštaičiai; Papročiai ir buitis; Aukštaitija; Customs and everyday life.
ENThe identity of an individual and a nation or an ethnic group is one of most important problems of the global society of our days. The question of identity becomes more urgent in the unified society. You understand who you are, by what you are similar to the others or differ from them – it is the perception of one’s value and one’s place in this world. We are proud of being Lithuanians when our teams or sportsmen win competitions and when the world hears about the achievements of our artists or scientists. However, we represent not only our nation or country. Lithuania consists of various ethnic lands – Aukštaitija (Highlands), Žemaitija (Smogitia, Lowlands), Dainava (Dzūkija, Southeast Lithuania), Sūduva (Sudovia, Southwest Lithuania) and Lithuania Minor (Prussian Lithuania). Do we understand that we are not only Lithuanians but also Aukštaičiai, Žemaičiai, Dzūkai or Sūduviai? In order to answer the questions: what is Aukðtaitija, what is its ethnogenesis, what are its ethnic boundaries and by what is distinctive the material and spiritual ethnic culture of Aukðtaièiai, on October 15, 2004 the Aukštaitija regional council for protection of ethnic culture held a scientific conference “Looking for the identity of Aukðtaièiai: heritage of the past, problems of today and prospects for the future”.Having come to the conference from all the districts of Aukštaitija the workers of culture and education, and representatives of other professions anxious about the preservation of ethnic culture heard fourteen reports: on the change of ethnonyme “Aukštaičiai” (Highlanders) (Academician Z. Zinkevičius), Aukštaičiai ethnogenesis (Dr. A. Girininkas), lands of Aukštaitija (Dr. G. Zabiela), historical past of Aukštaitija in the 13th-15th centuries (T. Baranauskas), Aukštaičiai altars (Dr. V. Vaitkevičius), polyphonic Aukštaičiai singing (Dr. D. Vyčinienė), Aukštaičiai dance music (Dr. G. Kirdienė), small brick religious constructions of small architecture with a statuette of a saint in Aukštaitija (M. Kuodienė), calendar customs (Dr. Ž. Šaknys), architecture of the countryside (Dr. R. Bertašiūtė), national costumes (T. Jurkuvienė); problems of Aukštaičiai consciousness were described by Dr. P. Kalnius, Dr. K. Garšva and A. Zabielienė. The publication of the conference articles is the first of that sort – the archeological, historical, ethnic and religious heritage of all Aukštaitija is regarded integrally. We think that this publication will be interesting not only to Aukštaičiai who want to learn more about their region but also to everybody who is interested in historical and ethnic heritage of Lithuania. [Extract, p. 164]