The name Užnemunė was first mentioned in the 1522 Metrica of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but in a much narrower sense – as the lands of the Lithuanian nobleman Jan Janowicz Zabrzeziński, covering approximately what is now Užnemunės Dzūkija.
In the mid-19th century, according to the data of Aleksander Połujański (1859), throughout Užnemunė people used the names of smaller sub‑nations: Zanavykai, Gogiai, Stakiai, Užvingiai, Šakiai, and Dzūkai. Jonas Basanavičius (1893), based on a source from 1862, identified the Zanavykai and Kapsai people as living here, and the Dzakai as living in the south.
The Zanavykai (Užnoviškiai) were so named by the Kapsai because they lived across the Nova River. The spread of the Zanavykai nation-name is evidenced by the short story by Vincas Pietaris from the end of the 19th century, “Vincas Zanavykas” (1895). The history of the Zanavykai was studied by Jonas Totoraitis (1929).
It is believed that the name Kapsai comes from the colloquial feature of saying “kap” instead of “kaip” [how/like]. The popularity of the Kapsai name is evidenced by Vincas Kudirka’s pen name Kapsas and Vincas Mickevičius’ pen name Kapsukas. At the end of the 19th–early 20th century, publicists signed their names with other similar pseudonyms: Kapsas K. P., J. Kapsas, Kariškis Kapsas.
The Liocai Suvalkiečiai live in the vicinity of Kiduliai, in Šakiai district. It is believed that the people of Jurbarkas called them by this name because of their finer clothing: they wore hats with a bill. Liocai prolong vowels and diphthongs when they speak, making it seem like they are singing. The ancient grammatical number dual is common in the Liocai dialect; they say mudvi einava, judu šnekata, bėkiva namo [we two are going, you two are talking, let us two run home]. They also say mergatė (instead of mergaitė) and use ancient pronouns such as jijė, jąją, josios.
The ethnonym Suvalkiečiai can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. This is evidenced by the pen-name of the author of writings in “Nauja gadynė “ (1894/14), “Kardas” (1897/17), “Wienibe lietuwninku” (1895/22), “Lietuva” (1914/20), “Aušra” (1914/42) – Suvalkietis, as well as the pseudonym of the musician Jonas Garalevičius (1871−1943), who wrote about kanklės and organs – Vargonininkas [Organ player] Suvalkietis. In 1914, Antanas Smetona geopolitically defined the Suvalkiečiai geographic area. Marijampolė in 1930–1937 had the weekly newspaper “Suvalkietis: nepartinis suvalkiečių savaitraštis”. Kybartai in 1930–1931 – “Mūsų Naujienos: Paprūsės suvalkiečių savaitraštis”. In 1935–1936, Užnemunė saw a strike of Suvalkija farmers. The Lithuanian Suvalkiečiai Community of Chicago was established in the United States in 1938.
Alongside the widespread concept of Suvalkians’ [Suvalkiečiai] Suvalkija, at the end of the 19th century the historical name of Sūduva was also being used. It was rescued from oblivion by Jonas Basanavičius (1885), who wrote, based on the stories of the old residents, that “Sūdavija was what the lands of the ancient Prussians were called”, which in folklore were called Sūdaunykai. Polish researchers were also interested in the history of Sudovians, they looked into the old Sudawia as the land of the most warlike Prussian tribe, the Suduvians, stretching between the Elk and the Nemunas (Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland, 1890). Sūdavija was also remembered by writer Vincas Pietaris, connecting the Sūdaviškiai people to the ancestors of the Dzūkai (1905). Eduards Volters (1897) also mentioned the ancient lands of Sūduva: collecting songs from the districts of Kalvarija and Trakai (Alovė region), he considered them as hailing from the “Dzūkai area and Old Sūduva region”.
Later, the name of Sūduva was used by Juozas Tysliava (1924) for his poetry almanac. Sūduva was also promoted by Vanda Daugirdaitė-Sruogienė in her History of Lithuania (1935) and popularised in historical research by Jonas Totoraitis (History of Suvalkija of Sūduva, 1938).
In the general physical geography of Lithuania and Poland, in the second half of the 20th century, the Suwałki Highland was replaced by the terms Sūduva Highland and Eastern Sūduva Highland.
Nowadays, the name Sūduva is more often used in a narrower sense, as a synonym of the ethnographic Suvalkija of the Suvalkian people.
The lifestyle of the Suvalkiečiai was influenced by their economically superior Prussian neighbours – who were also, parenthetically, residents of the region from where book smuggling spread. There were few manors in the region, and the peasants were freed from serfdom under better conditions and earlier than elsewhere, in the early 19th century. Large farms predominated because they were not divided among the families’ children. This is why, at the beginning of the Soviet era, a particularly large number of wealthier farmers in from Suvalkija were exiled to Siberia.
The people of this region are particularly characterised by their industriousness, frugality, and generosity. They are dignified but blunt in manner. People are also notably friendly, relaxed, social, open, and gentle. They do not swear, speak slowly and simply, their speech is clear and sounds striking. They always keep their word, respect the elderly and help each other in times of need. Women show independence in the family and in society: when greeting guests, they stand with their husbands; they are uninhibited, brave, and speak their minds. Suvalkiečiai respect everyone and anyone, regardless of their social status. A guest must thank and refuse as much as they can. It is considered rude to take the last bite. The self-respect of a Zanavykas does not allow them to show how hungry they are even when they are completely famished. The Liocai are said to be gifted and proud in their own way. As a strong people, they do not accept the pity or sympathy of others – it is disrespectful. One should not advise them, because they have an opinion about everything and are guided by their own attitudes.
Suvalkiečiai homesteads are surrounded by deciduous trees and orchards. Suvalkija was the land of windmills. Suvalkiečiai used to bathe in hot tubs, as saunas were forbidden by the Prussian authorities because of the fire risk they posed. Their premises (house, granary, barn, shed) were built around a square backyard. The roofs of larger farm buildings were covered with tiles.
Suvalkiečiai are famous for their curd cheese (they were the first to press sweet milk cheese) and smoked meat products (skilandis, sausages, smoked hams, cured pork fat). Bread dough balls with fresh or dried fruits are boiled to make duonzupė, or sweet fruit soup, or milky doughball soup. Bread patties baked on cabbage leaves is another delicious regional meal.
The features of the Kapsai and Zanavykai national costumes were studied in greater detail by Antanas Tamošaitis (1939). The folk costume of Suvalkiečiai was studied by Teresė Jurkuvienė (2017). Suvalkiečiai clothing, which tends toward the ornate, is characterised by vivid colours and intricate patterns. The most colourful and ornate part of the costume is the apron, richly decorated with lily blooms in the colours of the rainbow and stars, arranged either vertically (among the Zanavykai) or horizontally (the Kapsai). Elaborate patterns are visible on Suvalkiečiai sashes. Their bleached linen shirts have wide sleeves with numerous ruffles and cutwork embroidery.
Suvalkiečiai (užnemuniečiai) songs were first defined and typologised by Jadvyga Čiurlionytė (1938). Suvalkiečiai songs were also explored by Genovaitė Četkauskaitė (2002). One of the earliest elements of folklore in Suvalkija is the songs to mark the end of the rye harvest, the hay harvest, and especially the shepherd songs (oliavimai) during Pentecost. There is also a unique tradition of playing the multi-stringed kanklės and “Šyvis” dance during the festive period between Christmas and Epiphany.
Marijampolė is considered the capital of Suvalkija and the Kapsai people, while Šakiai − of the Zanavykai, and Gelgaudiškis − of the Liocai.
Preserving both the ethnographic name of Suvalkija and the oldest historical name of Užnemunė, Sūduva, is one of the aims of today. The State Commission of the Lithuanian Language suggests calling this region selectively either Suvalkija, Sūduva or Užnemunė. When emphasising the ethnographic specificity of the region, it is more appropriate to use the name Suvalkija, and in the historical context, the name Sūduva is more suitable.
Dr Vytautas Tumėnas
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