立陶宛十字架雕刻

In Lithuania， making crosses is a popular cultural tradition throughout the country. It includes not only the making crosses and altars but also sanctification ceremonies of crosses and other related rituals. The crosses carved from oak wood are associated with Catholic rites and have close relationship with ancient festival activities like the celebration of harvests. All these activities form a 400-year-old culture which roots in the pagan traditions before Christianity. As long as a cross is sanctified by a pastor， it will be endowed with inalienable sacred significance.

In the 19th century， Lithuania merged into the Russia Empire （Eastern Orthodoxy）. During this time and the later governance of the Soviet Union， crosses have become unique symbols of the Lithuanian nation and its religion. The heights of crosses range from 1 meter to 5 meters， which are often decorated with rootlets， flowers， geometric figures or statues. They are usually placed at roadsides， village’s entrances， graveyards and sides of monuments. Crosses with the statues of Mother of God and other icons always bring comfort to people in misery. Offerings to them are not only foods， roses and money， but also colorful scarves （in wedding） and aprons （symbolizing flourishing population）. Crosses are also sites for important meetings in villages and tokens of community solidarity.

在立陶宛，制作十字架是一種風行全國的文化傳統。它不僅制造十字架和祭壇，還包括十字架的圣化儀式以及其他與之相關的儀式。由橡木雕成的十字架與天主教的儀式是聯系在一起的，也與慶賀豐收和其他古代節慶活動密不可分。這些活動形成了一種已有400多年歷史的文化，它根植于基督教產生之前的異教傳統之中。一旦十字架被牧師圣化，它即被賦予了不可分割的神圣意義。

19世紀，立陶宛并入俄羅斯（東正教）帝國。在這個時期以及后來蘇聯政權的統治下，這些十字架成為了立陶宛民族和宗教的獨特象征。十字架高度為一至五米，常飾有小屋頂、花卉和幾何圖形或雕像，一般被放置在路邊、村口、墓地和其他紀念碑旁。飾有圣母瑪利亞雕像和其他圣像的十字架經常給處境悲苦的人們帶來一種慰藉，其供品不僅有食物、玫瑰、金錢，還包括花色圍巾（婚禮時）和圍裙（象征人丁興旺）。同時，十字架也是村莊里重要的聚會場所和社群團結的象征。