According to Wikipedia, in the ancient Lithuanian religion, Perkūnas is the Lithuanian God of thunder, the God of the sky, the Lord of rain, mountains, oak trees and storms. Quite a powerful god indeed.
In songs about a “heavenly wedding" Saulė (the Sun) cheats on Perkūnas with Mėnulis (the Moon); Perkūnas splits Mėnulis in half with a sword.
According to another, more popular, version, Mėnulis cheats on the Sun with Aušrinė (the morning star) just after the wedding, and Perkūnas punishes it. However, Mėnulis does not learn and repeats the adultery and is punished again every month. Other explanations say it is why the Sun shines during the day and the Moon at night. Though divorced, both want to see their daughter Žemyna (the Earth).
In other songs Perkūnas, on the way to the wedding of Aušra (dawn; the daughter of the Sun), strikes a golden oak, most likely in order to expel evil spirits, Velnias or snakes, that usually hide below the roots of an oak. The oak is a tree of the thunder god in the Lithuanian tradition.
Don’t you just love Lithuanian culture?
This week we’re doing a lesson we hadn’t planned to do, but since we have so many listeners from unexpected places, we’ll customize this lesson for our students who’re listening in Australia, Egypt, The Netherlands, Ireland, Botswana and Brazil.
Now, we’ve already learned how to say, for example, I’m Lithuanian or I’m English. Let’s do our new nationalities…
First, let’s go over the vardininkas or nominative declension of the country’s names in Lithuanian.
Prašom pakartoti…
Egiptas Egypt
Australija Australia
Nyderlandai Netherlands
Airija Ireland
Botsvana Botswana
Brazilija Brazil
Now, to say, “I’m from…", we use the genitive or kilmininkas. Prašom pakartoti…
I’m from Egypt Aš iš Egipto
I’m from Australia Aš iš Australijos
I’m from The Netherlands Aš iš Nyderlandų
I’m from Ireland Aš iš Airijos
I’m from Botswana Aš iš Botsvanos
I’m from Brazil Aš iš Brazilijos
Great, now let’s say “I’m Australian" or “I’m Brazilian" from a man and a woman’s perspective…
I’m Egyptian Aš Egiptietis
I’m Egyptian Aš Egiptietė
I’m Australian Aš Australas
I’m Australian Aš Australė
I’m a Dutchman Aš Olandas
I’m a Dutchwoman Aš Olandė
I’m Irish Aš Airis
I’m Irish Aš Airė
I’m Botswanan Aš Botsvanietis
I’m Botswanan Aš Botsvanietė
I’m Brazilian Aš Brazilas
I’m Brazilian Aš Brazilė
Fantastic, now keep in mind, that later on, it might be easier if, just for fun, you “Lithuanianize" your name. For example, I use Džiakas when I’m in Lithuania because it’s easier. If you’re not sure how to make your name into something that makes sense in Lithuanian, just contact us and we can help.
Saulė the Sun
Perkūnas God of thunder
Mėnulis the Moon
Aušrinė the Morning Star
Žemyna the Earth
Aušra Dawn; the daughter of the Sun
Velnias God of evil