1. Dace Prauliņš d.praulins@lbss.gla.ac.uk
Latvian mythology
and its interpretation
in folk art and songs

2. Outline
Sky deities
Earth and water deities
Others

3. Dievs - God
Word originates from proto-Indo-European root deiw- meaning “to shine” – gave rise to deiwos – name of a sky god » Latin Jovis, Greek Zeus, Anglo-Saxon Tiw – god of sky and war (Tuesday!)
Christian missionaries chose Dievs to represent Christian God but traditionally symbol represents sky – roof over earth
Dievs maintains order in the world, nothing happens without his knowledge – wise old man with white beard

4. Dievs - God
Klusat, jauni, klusat, veci, Dievs ienāca istabā, Dievs ienāca istabā, Vaicā nama saimenieku.
Augsti dzied cīrulīts Par visiem putniņiem; Augsta Dieva valdīšana Par visiem kundziņiem.
Es piedzimu bez naudiņas, Bez gudrā padomiņa. Dieviņš man naudu deva, Laima gudru padomiņu.

5. Dievs - God Translations of folk songs
Be quiet, the young, be quiet, the old, God came into the room, God came into the room asking for the master of the house.
The lark sings higher than any other bird; God’s rule is higher than that of any lord.
I was born without any money, without any good advice; God gave me money, Laima good advice.

6. Dieva zīme - God’s symbol

7. Saule - Sun
One of the most important deities – driven across the sky in horse-drawn chariot of gold – looks after the soul and the life beyond
Goddess of the sun and fertility, patroness of unfortunate people, especially orphans who she protects like a mother by warming them (historically many children orphaned because of the many wars on Latvian territory)
Mother of saules meitas (sun’s daughters) – suitors include dieva dēli (god’s sons), dievs (god), mēness (moon), auseklis (morning star)

8. Saule
Jauni puiši nezināja, Kur Saulīte nakti guļ: Jūras vidū uz akmiņi Garas niedres galiņā.
Velk Saulīte zīda kleitu, Liek sudraba vainadziņu, Liek sudraba vainadziņu Zeltītām lapiņām.
Kas to teica, kas redzēja, Kas Saulīte meita bija? Mēnestiņis, tas redzēja, Tas nojēma vaiņadziņu.

9. Saule Translations of folk songs
Young guys didn’t know where the Sun sleeps at night: in the middle of the sea on a stone at the end of a long reed.
The Sun put on a silk dress, puts a silver crown on her head, puts on a silver crown with golden leaves.
Who said that, who saw that when the Sun was a young girl? The Moon, he saw that, he took off her crown.

10. Saules zīme – sun symbol

11. Saule

12. Pērkons - Thunder
Deity of fertility and weather – controls thunder, lightning and rain - importance of rain equal to sun – sacrifices made to god to prevent droughts and floods
Forests were domain of god, symbolised by tall oak trees
Sign symbolises light, fire, life, health and prosperity – crossed lightning bolts – can roll over the earth without harming it or can damage the earth if the spokes get caught in it

13. Pērkons - Thunder
Pērkoņa mātei Deviņi dēli: Trīs sita bungas, Trīs stabulēja, Trīs laida migliņu Avotu lejā.
Ej, pērkon, vecais tēvs, Ko tās tavas meitas dara? - Manas meitas pakaļ gāja, Smalku lietu sijādamas.
Kalējs kala debesīs, Ogles bira Daugavā: Saules meitas saktu kala, Dieva dēla zobentiņu.

14. Pērkons - Thunder
Translations of folk songs
The mother of Thunder had nine sons: three played the drums, three played the flute and three let the mist into the valley of the spring.
Hey, Thunder, old man, what are those daughters of yours doing? My daughters followed me, sifting fine rain.
The smith was forging in the heavens, the coals fell into the River Daugava: the Sun’s daughters were forging a brooch and a sword for God’s son.

15. Pērkona/uguns krusts, Laimas krusts - Thunder/fire cross, Laima’s cross

16. Mēness - Moon
God of war – participated in battle – had a sword of diamonds and wore clothes woven of stars
Protector of soldiers and travellers
Moon’s power became a symbol of warriors who wore moon symbols for protection
One of the suitors of the sun or her daughters

17. Mēness - Moon
Saule bāra Mēnestiņu, Kam tas dienu netecēja. Mēnestiņis atbildēja: Tev dieniņa, man naksniņa.
Spīdi gaiši, mēnesnīca, Gar maniem lodziņiem; Nav man vasku, ne svecīšu, Ne skaliņu plēsājiņa.
Kur tecēji, mēnestiņi, Ar to zvaigžņu puduriņu? - Karā eimu, karā teku, Jauniem vīriem palīgā.

18. Mēness - Moon Translations of folk songs
The Sun scolded the Moon, why wasn’t he out and about during the day. The Moon replied, you have the day, I have the night.
Shine brightly, Moon, past my windows; I have neither wax, nor candles, nor tools to make kindling.
Where were you going, Moon, with that cluster of stars? I am heading off to war, going to war, to help the young men.

19. Mēness zīme – Moon symbol

20. Auseklis – Morning Star
Equivalent of Venus – protects sleeping souls from evil
One of the suitors of Saule

21. Auseklis – Morning Star
Auseklitis agri lēca, Saules meitas gribedams; Lec, Saulite, pate agri, Nedod meitas Ausekļam.
Saul' sacirta Mēnestiņu Ar aso zobentiņu, Kam atņēma Ausekļam Saderetu līgaviņu.
Trīs rītiņi neredzēja Auseklīša uzlecam: Saules meita ieslēguse Ozoliņa kambarī.

22. Auseklis – Morning Star
Translations of folk songs
The Morning Star rose early wanting the Sun’s daughters; Sun, rise early yourself, don’t give your daughters to the Morning Star.
The Sun cut the Moon with a sharp sword, why did he take the Morning Star’s bride?
For three mornings the Morning Star was not seen rising: the Sun’s Daughter locked him into an oak chamber.

23. Laima – Goddess of destiny
Name derives from laime – “happiness” and “luck”
Goddess of human destiny: determines whether life will be short or long, affluent or poverty-stricken, carefree or full of worry
Determines moment of death, sometimes arguing about it with Dievs
Also looks after women giving birth – babies were delivered in the sauna as this was away from the house

24. Laima
Laima raud, mūžiņš raud, Abi divi gauži raud. Ko, Laimiņa, tu raudaji, Pati mūža licejiņa?
Šur man teica, tur man teica Ļaudis miežu arajiņu. Vēl jau pate nezinaju, Kur Laimiņa audzinaja.
Vaj es viena mātes meita Uz pirtiņu ceļu gāju: I Laimiņa pakaļ gāja, Plaši matus izlaiduse.

25. Laima Translations of folk songs
Laima is crying, life is crying, both of them are crying bitterly. Why are you crying, Laima, you yourself are the one that decides life.
Here they told me, there the people told me about a barley ploughman; I still didn’t know myself where Laima was bringing him up.
Oh dear, I, a mother’s daughter (woman) was going to the sauna alone; Laima followed me from behind with her hair spread out wide.

26. Laimas zīme - Laima’s symbol

27. Laimas slotiņa - Laima’s broom

28. Māra
Goddess of birth and death; protector of women and children; goddess of the hearth; goddess of earth and water – rivers, lakes and seas - responsible for every living thing; associated with childbirth and with death
One symbol is inverted god’s symbol
Another is four crosses – symbol of hearth and home - Mara provided bread and fire
Zigzag represents water – rivers, lakes, seas

29. Māra
Mīļa Māra dusmas tura Uz jaunām sieviņām, Kam tās gāja pliku galvu, Ar basām kājiņām.
Es atradu mīļu Māru Pirtes taku ravējam; Es pametu visu darbu, Teku, līdzu noravēt.
“Mīļā Māra, eji tā cilvēka laidarā, nesi līdz deviņas slaucenes, pieslauc tās ar pienu, dodi labu krējumu un sviestu kā mālus. Aizdzeni tās raganas, pieķellē tām acis, lai tās vairs neredz tā cilvēka lopiņus.”

30. Māra Translations of folk songs
Dear Mara was angry with the young wives, why did they go bare-headed and with bare feet.
I found dear Mara weeding the path to the sauna; I stopped all my work and go to weed with her.
Dear Mara, go to that person’s farm, take with you nine milk pails, milk them full of milk, give good cream and butter like clay. Send those witches packing; stuff their eyes so that they don’t see that person’s animals. (It was the witches who were responsible for any problems with the farm animals.)

31. Māras zīme - Mara’s symbol

32. Māras līklocis/ūdeņi – Mara’s zigzag/waters

33. Māra – Krusta krusts – cross of the cross

34. Ūsiņš – celestial charioteer
First known as god of light; later keeper of the horses and bees - takes care of livestock in summer
His day is 23 April when animals were let out for the first time
Drives the sun’s chariot across the sky with his two horses
Symbol – diamond represents sun’s chariot, the two Es are the horses

35. Ūsiņš
Ūsiņš jāja pieguļā Ar deviņi kumeliņi; Es tecēju vārtu vērt, Man atdeva devīto.
Paldies, zirgu Ūsainīti, Par kumeļu barošanu! Vai izvedu, vai aizjūdzu, Noturēti nevarēju.

36. Ūsiņš Translation of folk songs
Ūsiņš was riding on the night watch with nine horses; I went to open the gate, he gave me the ninth.
Thank you, (horse) Ūsiņš, for feeding the horses. Whether I took them out or harnessed them, I couldn’t hold them.

37. Ūsiņš

38. Mārtiņš – keeper of horses
Guards horses and livestock during winter from 10 November
Historically Latvia was attacked by tribes across the ice in winter so Mārtiņš protected warriors who were guarding the farms
Symbol possibly two fighting cocks, or a development of the Jumis symbol

39. Mārtiņš – keeper of horses
Ej Mārtiņ, labais vīrs, Baro manus kumeliņus; Sukādams, barodams, Sēsties siles galiņā.
Kas tur dīc, kas tur rīb, Ap to mūsu istabiņu? Mārtiņš gaili dancī veda, Ap istabu tekādams.

40. Mārtiņš – keeper of horses
Translation of folk songs
Martin, good man, go and feed my horses; grooming, feeding, sitting on the edge of the trough.
What’s buzzing there, what’s clattering there around our room? Martin’s taking the cockerel for a dance, going around the room.

41. Jumis
Field and fertility god, symbolised by two-eared stalk of grain

42. Jumis
Jumītim klēti taisu, Deviņiem apcirkņiem; Ka vārēja ielīgot, Ar visām galviņām.
Jumis veda Jumaliņu Rudzu ziedu vizināt; No kalniņa lejiņā. Kūpēt kūp kumeliņi.

43. Jumis Translations of folk songs
I’m making a barn for Jumis with nine corn bins; we could sing it in (welcome it) with all the heads.
Jumis took his lady for a ride in the rye; down the hill into the valley. The horses are steaming.

44. Jumis

45. Jānis Summer solstice deity Son of Dievs; fertility god
Name could be adaptation of John the Baptist
Festival on 23 June – ritual fires must shine light as far as possible to ensure fertility therefore built on a pole or at the top of hill

46. Zalktis – grass snake
Serpent – protected by Laima – harming one brings bad luck
Symbol connected with well-being

47. Krusts - cross One of oldest symbols
In Latvia examples found from the 8th century in knitted and textile items – used for protection
Meteni, Meteni, Kur liki pīrāgu? Klētī plauktā, Krustinš virsū.

48. Krusts - cross Translation of folk song
Meteni, Meteni*, where did you put the pie? In the barn, on a shelf with a cross in the middle.
*Meteņi – 10 February – end of winter

49. Austras koks – the tree of Austra
Symbolises sunrise
Sun slept in the Austras koks during the night

50. References - text
Kraukle D. (2006) Latviešu rakstu zīmes. Riga, Jumava

51. References - illustrations
Images of folk art:
Orange symbols:
Grey symbols:
(beer tankard)
(glass sun)