Kursenieki is an almost extinct ethnic group of Baltic origin. Previously, they lived on the Curonian Spit , on the territory of the former East Prussia . They spoke Curenka dialect , an almost extinct dialect of the Latvian language , as well as German .
| Kursenieki | |
|---|---|
| Abundance and area | |
| Total: ~ 7 people | |
 Lithuania | |
| Tongue | Curenius dialect , German |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
| Related peoples | Latvians , Lithuanians |
| Origin | Curonian , Prussians |
History
Descendants of the ancient Curonian tribe that previously inhabited the Course . When, as a result of the conquests of the Teutonic knights, the Curonian Spit became practically uninhabited, during various migrations during the XIV-XVII centuries. part of the inhabitants of Courland settled near Memel and Sambia . They retained their old name, and the Curonians, who remained to live in Courland, became part of the Latvians .
Kursenieks were assimilated by the Germans . At the end of the XIX century, their number was 4000 people. At the end of World War II, creepers, along with most of the rest of the population of East Prussia, were evacuated to central Germany, leaving the Curonian Spit.
Culture
By religion, cheneniuses are Lutherans , like all former residents of East Prussia, although some ancient pagan customs were preserved. Most of the cadets were bilingual , they knew two or even three languages: they used the curenic language in family and fishing, German in everyday communication (at the national level in Germany); German and Lithuanian languages were used in worship. Most of the cadets were fishermen (see also kurenas , the traditional boat of the Curonian Spit fishermen that was used before World War II). The first to show interest in their culture was Paul Kwauka , a member of the Memelland Territory Movement. His book Kurisches Wörterbuch is a very valuable source of information. Works describing the legacy of codlocks are continued by Richard Peach, one of the remaining codices.
Links
- Eva Pluhařova-Grigienė. The Curonian Spit: Identity and Cultural Heritage (link not available)
- Historical features of the northern part of the curonian spit
- Map of languages in Prussia and Memelland, as of 1900 (German) large
- Die Kuren (German)
- Rietumbalti un viņu kaimiņi kultūru krustcelēs (Latvian)
- Kursenieki un to valoda Latvijas un latviešu pētījumos un publikācijās (Latvian)
- Paskutinioji kuršininkų karta (lit.)
- Dalia Kiseliūnaitė. Kuršių Nerijos asmenvardžiai kaip gyventojų etninės sudėties liudininkai. Personennamen der Kurischen Nehrung als zeugen der der ethnischen Zusammensetzung der Bevölkerung (lit.) (German)
- Baltu identitātes un etnosa saglabāšanās ilgtermiņa perspektīva. Baltų identiteto ir etnoso išlikimo ilgalaikė perspektyva. (Latvian) (lit.)