Between Religious, Cultural and Social Contradictions: The Traditional Medicine of Lithuania Minor from the 19th till Beginning of the 20th Century

This article analyzes the traditional medicine of Lithuania Minor from the 19th till the beginning of the 20th century. This research describes the circumstances of traditional medicine in Lithuania Minor, its religious, cultural and social contradictions. The sources of this research are the ethnographic texts of educated people of Lithuania Minor: Karlas Kapeleris, Vilius Kalvaitis, Kristupas Jurksaitis, Ansas Bruozis, Jonas Skvirblys. In the works of these authors the concept of traditional medicine is filled with various elements of magic. But at the same time are obvious the Christian perspectives which condemn the magic methods of healing and the people that practice such methods. Despite the religious criticism of such methods, they were popular in Lithuania Minor at those times. They solved not only health but also social and cultural problems. Traditional medicine marked a distinction between religious views and two different ethnic groups: Lithuanians and Germans. The social aspects, such as family relations and community building, were important for the existence of traditional medicine. The economic situation at that time also supported the practice of traditional medicine.