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Lithuania

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Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses is located 12 km (7.4 mi) north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The tradition of leaving crosses on the hill is believed to have started after the 1831 uprising at a fort on the site, when citizens erected crosses to honor the rebels whose bodies could not be found. With an estimated 100,000 crosses -- as well as statues of the Virgin Mary, tiny effigies, and rosaries -- the Hill of Crosses symbolizes the peaceful endurance of the Lithuanian people despite the threats they faced throughout history. During the Soviet occupation (1944-1990), the hill signified the public’s opposition to the ruling country and its religious suppression. Today it is a Catholic pilgrimage site, and UNESCO recognizes cross-making as part of the cultural heritage of Lithuania.
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