Dzūkija: differenze tra le versioni

People in Dzūkija traditionally speak [[Dzūkian]] [[dialect]], which is also known as [[South Aukštaitian]]. Same as elsewhere in Lithuania, dialects are dying out however and people more and more speak standard [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]], except for elders. East part of Dzūkija (the part in [[Belarus]], also Šalčininkai district and Vilnius district) was greatly influenced by [[slavicization]], and has now [[Poles|Polish]] and [[Belarus|Belarusian]] majorities.

 

 

Because of its remoteness, lots of forests and swamps, the region has quite much of wild berries and mushrooms; picking of both has been centuries old tradition of Dzūkian people, and now it is continued. In summer and autumn there are lots of Dzūkian people selling berries and mushrooms in markets or beside major roads, although now a centralised companies buying out what people gathered are also popular. People from other parts of Lithuania come to forage in Dzūkija too, although Dzūkians try to hide the places most rich of "forest treasures"; as well, some people who don't know mushrooms well sometimes accidentally pick poisonous ones. Because of this tradition, there is a saying in Lithuanian language ''"Jei ne grybai ir ne uogos, dzūkų mergos būtų nuogos"'' ("If not for mushrooms and berries, Dzūkian girls would all be naked").

 

 

Dzūkija, unlike [[Samogitia]] for example (another ethnographic region of Lithuania), has never been defined as a political or administrative unit. Traditionally, city of [[Alytus]] is regarded as the capital of the region, although it is not the largest one. The idea of [[Lithuanian lands]] however, which was very supported by former president [[Rolandas Paksas]], proposed that Lithuania instead of [[counties of Lithuania|apskritys]] should be divided into ethnographic regions, called ''lands''. It would make Dzūkija a separate land. Although now it is unclear whether this idea would be done and when, Dzūkian flag and coat of arms were created and adopted few years ago.

 

 

Coat of arms of Dzūkija pictures a white warrior with shield standing on white ground, with a blue sky behind. The [[grand coat of arms]] is the same, except that it is supported from sides by two creatures, and at the bottom there is [[Latin]] inscription ''Ex gente bellicosissima populus laboriosus'', meaning "Out of most warring tribe - industrious people". These words, meant to become [[motto]] of Dzūkija, weren't used in past, but they, as well as the warrior shown in the coat of arms, represent the fact that [[Yatvingians]] lived in southern Lithuania (including where now is Dzūkija) formerly, which were considered to be one of the most warring [[Balts|Baltic]] tribes and according to few remaining stories were great warriors. Flag is based on this coat of arms. Symbolics were created by expert of South Lithuanian [[heraldry]] [[Arvydas Každalis]] few years ago, to be used in case Dzūkija would become an administrative unit.