(Redirected from Veja Diena)
Basics
Latvian culture, along with Lithuanian, is among the oldest surviving Indo-European culture. Much of its symbolism (for example, the "fire cross" or
swastika) is ancient. Its seasons, festivals, and numerous deities reflect the essential agrarian nature of Latvian tribal life. These seasons and festivals are still noted, if not also celebrated today—for example,
JÄņi is a national holiday.
The legacy of Latvian mythology is also seen in contemporary Christian holidays. Christmas is called
Ziemassvētki. Not only is
Easter called
Lieldienas, but the
pussy willow has supplanted the
palm frond in Christian symbolism.
Palm Sunday is
PÅ«pol SvÄ“tdiena, literally, ''Pussy Willow Sunday'', and little children are awoken that morning by the ritualistic swats of a pussy willow branch and the exclamation, "Apaļš kÄ pÅ«pols, apaļš kÄ pÅ«pols, apaļš kÄ pÅ«pols!" ("Round like (the catkins of) a pussy willow!")
Sources
Historical Sources
In AD
98,
Tacitus, a
Roman, mentioned the worship of a goddess-mother in the Baltic region (see
Aesti). Reports of
Christianization give unbalanced information. We do know that some tribes had had their religious beliefs declining for some time, and accepted Christianity willingly. Others, such as the
Curonians and
Semigallians, resisted Christianization. Later texts by authors who presumably knew nothing of Latvian beliefs, substituted supposedly authoritative work substituting
Prussian deities, adding extremely unlikely explanations and
etymologies.
Folklore
Latvian folklore was recorded mostly after the 19th century, therefore it sometimes can be quite christianized. Still, the traditions are layered rather than merged. These records sometimes also contain the opinions of the mythographers, giving their ideas about how the folklore might have been transformed over time.
Folk songs
Latvian folk songs, named
Dainas by
KriÅ¡jÄnis Barons, presumably could be the best sources due to the need to keep rhythm, and therefore are learned word by word, thus even in one song the first verse can speak of the same subject in singular while others refer to the subject in plural, indicating that there has been innovation.
Tales
Most tales contain folklorised reality — information of ancient events or archaeological sites, and mythological tales concerning god and devil. Despite that, they give slight outline to ancient mythology — it is quite clear that "devil" is used to describe anything pagan, thus describing ancient cult places, and in a few cases they give a better idea about the original beliefs than the folk songs do; i.e. the folk songs do not directly point to MÄ“ness adultery as the tales do.
Folk beliefs and proverbs
Latvian beliefs and proverbs give insight into everyday rituals and folk medicine.
Seasons and Festivals
The Latvians recognized eight different seasons to the year. The end of one season and the beginning of the next was marked by a festival.
Other minor holidays:
#'Barbes Diena' (also Barbanas Diena) was a festival held on
December 1, celebrating the fertility of lambs and
ewes. Working with needles or other sharp objects was forbidden. Dumplings were eaten. Various rituals were performed to guarantee the health and fertility of the
sheep.
#'Bertuli Diena' was a festival celebrated on
August 24, commemorated the sowing of
rye and the first day of the
mushroom season. It was unlucky to pour water inside barns. In addition, rain on this day would off fires.
#'Biezputras Diena' ("porridge day") was celebrated on
February 4. It was held on the Sunday before
Meteni. On this day, uneaten porridge is supposedly taken into the hills to feed the shepherds all summer. The porridge is actually replaced with water. A new shepherd is initiated by bringing the crock of "porridge" to the hills, then being doused in the water.
#'Bindus Diena' was a festival observed on
March 18, the day after Kustonu Diena. It was later named Binduli Diena, in honor of
St. Benedict. It was associated primarily with insects. Everybody must be awake before the sunrise. Water must not be poured inside barns. The backs of the cows, and the barns' ceilings, must be washed. Bears were believed to wake up on this day, but then fall back asleep. Bringing firewood in on this day will bring snakes with you. Rushes, twigs and straw will also attract snakes. Potatoes and cabbages can not be planted on this day. Alternative names include Binduli Diena, Benediktu Dienu, Bimbulu Dienu.
#'Dvēseļu diena' ("day of souls"), also called Visu Sveto Diena ("all saints day"). It was held on
November 2. Families (supposedly, both living and dead members) gathered at their burial plots during the evening to commemorate the continuation of life.
#'Jurģu Diena' ("day of Gregory") was a minor holiday, similar to
Groundhog Day. In this version, the
fox emerging from his den signals the start of spring, which will otherwise sleep for two more weeks. It was held on
March 12.
#'JÄ“kaba Diena' ("Jacob's day") was a festival held on
July 24. It was the start of the harvesting season. The townsfolk held feasts from their freshly harvested grain and gave neighbors gifts of bread. Weddings were lucky if held on this day. A bright sun was also lucky; a cloudy day was a portent of snow; rain caused a low harvest yield. Unless it was a new moon, old seeds had to be sown. It was unlucky to walk through cabbage fields; if the cabbage heads hadn't appeared yet, they would not. Hay could not be brought into a barn, or risk the wrath of
Perkons. Alternative names include Jekaba Diena.
#'
Kazimira Diena' was a
festival, held on
March 24, which commemorated the return of the
larks.
#'Kustoņu diena' was held on
March 17, followed the next day by Bindus Diena. It was associated with insects. To ward against insects, nothing could be planted on this day. The flour-mill was rotated nine times in the morning, when sparrows were driven from the homes, to ward against them for the summer. Spinning linen was forbidden for attracting wolves. Embroidering and sewing forbidden, or else worms will infect crops and moles will dig holes, respectively. Alternative names include Getrudas Diena (Gertrude's Day).
#'LabrenÄa diena' was a festival celebrated on
August 10.
#'Pelnu Diena' ("ash day") was held on
February 24. It was a celebration of the new year. Ashes were transported on this day from the homes of one generation, to the newly independent and married couple of the next, usually from the groom's father's fire to the new one.
#'Septiņu brÄļu diena' ("day of seven brothers") was a festival held on
July 10.
#'Septiņu gulÄ“tÄju diena' ("feast day of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus") was held each year on
July 27. Legend states that these
Christian saints were
Ephesians from
Asia Minor, walled up by
Roman Emperor Decius in a
cave for their faith in 250 CE. Found by
masons in the year 479, the Ephesians had thought they were asleep for only one night, instead of 229 years that had actually elapsed. Once awake,
Malchus made his way into town to buy bread for the others, rubbing the sleep of more than two centuries from his eyes. He was amazed to see Christian crosses placed on all the buildings. This was in stark contrast to the earlier times when they had been persecuted. (In 250 CE Roman gods were all that could be worshipped.) The bakers were amazed at the coins he offered, and thought that the young man had found treasure. Latvians believed that if it rains on this feast day, there will be seven weeks and seven days of rain.
#'Tanis Diena' was a sacred holiday held on
February 17. It was held in honor of
pigs and was transferred to the feast day of
St. Anthony after
Christianization. A pig's head was placed atop a stone to protect the people from thunder and lightning. During the day, the townsfolk went to pig pens and sang songs glorifying the fertility of the pig. At lunch, a pig's head and feet were eaten and the remains were buried where the pigs would be herded the following year. Sewing or other needle-work was strictly prohibited, as was drinking in the home. A foggy day indicated floods; a sunny day indicated a good
barley crop; a dry day indicated drought, etc. Alternative names include Tena Diena, Tunna Diena, Tenisa Diena, Cukausu Diena, and Kunga Diena ("man's day").
#'Tipsa Diena' was a festival held on
April 15 to commemorate the beginning of the ploughing of the fields.
#'Urbanas Diena' was a festival held on
May 25, the luckiest day to plant
oats,
barley,
flax and
cucumbers.
Potatoes, however, were not planted on this day. A sunny day signified a healthy crop.
#'VÄ“ja Diena' ("day of wind") was a festival held on
February 2. The day was thought of as a fiercely windy day, and various rituals were performed to ensure that the damage from the wind would not be too bad the following summer.
#'Vitus Diena' or 'Saint Vitus' Dance Day' was a
medieval festival held on
June 15 in ancient
Latvia to commemorate the last day of planting. Rain on this day signified a bountiful crop, as well as the first appearances of
bees and
flies. "Saint Vitus dance" is also a song written by the early metal band
Black Sabbath. The track was released on their "
Vol.4" album (1972).
#'Zvaigznes' ("day of star") or 'PagÄnu SvÄ“tdiena' ("holy day of pagans") was a festival held on
January 6. Three pointed
apple cakes were eaten. If a dog was heard barking, the direction was said to also be that person's future spouse. Weaving and wood-cutting was bad luck. A sunny enough day (warmed up the
horse's backs) signified a year without war. After Christianization, Zvaigznes Diena became Trīs Kungu Diena ("three king's day"). The
three kings refer to
Caspar,
Melchioru and
Belceru. The initials "KMB" were carved on doors so that they would bless the house.
Gypsies painted six-cornered stars on their foreheads. A clear night signified a good season.
List of deities and other terms
Gods and deities
#'
Auseklis' - (from root ''aust-'' ''dawn-'') also called Lielais Auseklis ("great Auseklis"). He was associated with
Venus, and with both
Meness and
Saule, the moon and the sun.
#'Ceroklis' - a
fertility god, associated with
agriculture and
farmers. The
Jesuit Joannis Stribingius discussed Cerklicing when he went to Eastern Latvia in 1606. The first bite of any food, and the first drop of any drink, was given to this deity. Alternative names include Dewing Cereklicing, Cerekling, Cercklicing, Greklicing, Cerekticing, Cerklicing, Cerroklis.
#'Dēkla' - (from ''dēt'' ''to plant'') was one of a trinity of fate goddesses that included her sisters
KÄrta and
Laima. However, all three may have been aspects of Laima and in many ways Dekla doubles with Laima. She was associated with children and infants and was often depicted with them at her breast. In original Latvian mythology, as opposed to
dievturiba, Dekla was the goddess of fortune and destiny and was worshipped primarily in Western Latvia.
#'Ūsiņš' - was the god of
horses,
bees and
light, mentioned by
Jesuit Joannis Stribingius in 1606. He took care of horses during the summer, then transferred the power to
MÄrtiņš at the festival of
MÄrtiņi. He was especially associated with the festival
Jurģi. Alternative names include Deving Isching, Usins, Dewing Uschinge.
#'Dievs' - (''god'') was the supreme god. The same word refers to the Christian deity in modern
Latvian. In ancient Latvian mythology, Dievs was not just the father of the gods, he was the essence of them all. Every other deity was a different aspect or manifestation of Dievs; this is most true with
MÄra and
Laima. The name Dievs was also interpreted as Sky. Though he courted
Saule, no actual wife is known. His sons are known as Dieva deli. He is historically the same god of
Indo-European religion as
Odinn,
Zeus,
Jupiter and
Dyaus Pita.
#'JÄnis' - (or ''Jahnis'') was a deity associated with
JÄņi, the
Midsummer's Night festival. After
Christianization, he was associated with
John the Baptist, through a process of
syncretism. Once a year, JÄnis came to bring luck and fertility to the people of
Latvia. In modern Latvia, it is very popular male
given name.
#'Jumis' - (from root ''jum-'' ''roof-'') was a god of sky and fertility. He is associated with "double-plants," such as two corn stalks or trees which have grown together and share a trunk or stem. During harvesting, some stalks of the crops are bent to the ground and secured in that location with stones. During his holiday,
MiÄ·eli, a ritual called the Catching of Jumis is performed, it involves a procession that carries some grains (symbol of "captured" Jumis) home, thereby ensuring the following year's harvest will be at least as successful. He is depicted as a short man with clothes that resemble ears of
wheat,
hops and
barley.
#'KÄrta' (''layer'') - was one of a trinity of fate goddesses that included her sisters Dekla and
Laima. All three may have been aspects of Laima. Alternative names include Karta mÄte, Karta mathe.
#'
Laima' - (''luck'') was a goddess in both Latvian and Lithuanian mythologies. She is the personification of
fate and of
luck, both good and bad. She was associated with
childbirth, marriage, death,
prolificacy, and domesticity. She was also the patron of
pregnant women. Some sources proclaim three Laimas, which means that either this goddess had three aspects or this could have been general name for three deities. Alternative names include Laime, LaimÄ—, Laimas mÄte, Laimas mathe.
#'
Lauma' - (''fairy'') is a beautiful naked maiden that cannot have her own children. So she often steals other children and makes cow milk bad. They are very strong and cannot be killed by man in a fight, however they can be killed by touching their
milk pail.
#'
MÄra' - (
''Mary'') is the highest-ranking
goddess, a feminine Dievs. She may be thought as alternate side of Dievs (like in
Yin Yang). Other Latvian goddesses, sometimes all of them, are considered her alternate aspects.
#'MÄrtiņš' - was a god who protected the Latvian people and their livestock such as horses, during the winter months, from thieves, cold and starvation. He took over the function of protector of the horses from Dewing Uschinge on
November 10, the festival of
MÄrtiņi. Alternative names include Martins.
#'MÄ“ness' - (''moon'') was the
god of the moon and
war. He was one of the suitors of
Saules meitas. MÄ“ness counted the stars and determined that
Auseklis was missing, and stole Auseklis' bride. He was usually a rival of
Saule, the sun, his wife who sheared him in pieces after discovering his adultery. Alternative names include Mehness, Meness, and MÄ—nulis in Lithuanian mythology.
#'Metenis' - was a mysterious deity, connected with the festival
Meteni, into which he rode during the celebrations on his sleigh. He has five sons and five daughters.
#'Meža vīrs' - was the god of the forests, associated with
wolves. Alternative names include Meža Tēvs, Meža Dievs, Meža Virs.
#'Miķelis' - was one of dieva dēli, sons of Dievs, the supreme gods. He was a god of
astronomy,
prophecy and
abundance.
#'
PÄ“rkons' - (''thunder'') was the common Baltic god of thunder, one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon. In both Lithuanian and Latvian mythology, he is documented as the god of thunder, rain, mountains, oak trees and the sky.
#'Ragana' - (''witch'') was a prophetess and sorceress, and a goddess of magic. After
Christianization, she was turned into a minor witch bringing bad luck to humans and animals. She is also a Lithuanian goddess.
#'
Saule' - (''the sun'') was the
goddess of the sun and fertility, patron goddess of the unlucky, including orphans. She was the mother of Saules meitas and lived on top of a mountain and flew across the sky on her chariot. At night, she sailed across the sea. She is a beloved Baltic Sun Goddess sometimes recognised as a red apple, setting in the west. Saule is reborn as her daughter, the morning star at the Winter Solstice.
SaulÄ— is also a Lithuanian goddess.
#'Zalktis' - was a god of well-being and fertility, about whom little is known. He was associated with
snakes.
MÄtes
#'JÅ«ras mÄte' - (''mother of waves'') a patron goddess of sailors. She protected ships when sailors worshipped her. She sunk those who displeased her.
#'Ceļa mÄte' - (''mother of roads'') protected travelers on the road.
#'DÄrza mÄte' - (''Mother of garden'') was governing gardens. She is described in Paul Einhorn's ''
Historia Lettica'', 1649, as one of the 'mothers' presiding over the practical aspects of everyday life.
#'Gausu mate' - (''mother of satieted'') was a goddess representing laziness.
#'JÅ«ras mÄte' - (''mother of sea'') was the goddess of the sea. She was the patron of fishermen, sailors and healers (particularly invoked to heal bleeding).
#'Kapu mÄte' - (''mother of graves'') presided over cemeteries and graves. Alternative names include Kapu mahte.
#'KrÅ«mu mÄte' - (''mother of shrubs'') presided over bushes, shrubs and saplings.
#'Lapu mÄte' - (''mother of leaves'') a goddess who presided over the changing colors of the leaves in autumn.
#'Lauku mÄte' - (''mother of fields'') a goddess of fields.
Farmers sacrificed to her in order to ensure a bountiful
harvest.
#'Lazdu mÄte' - (''mother of hazel'') a goddess of hazel.
#'Lietus mÄte' - (''mother of rain'') a goddess of rain.
#'Linu mÄte' - (''mother of linen'') a goddess of linen.
#'Lopu mÄte' - (''mother of livestock'') presided over cattle and other
livestock. She may have been equivalent to
MÄra.
#'Meža mÄte' - (''mother of the forests'') a patron goddess of forests, the animals within it and hunters and woodcutters.
#'Miglas mÄte' - (''mother of
fog'') held dominion over fog. She was especially venerated by sailors.
#'Pirts mÄte' - (''mother of the bathhouse'') a ruler of bathhouses, which were the scene of many important rituals and ceremonies marking births, deaths, marriages and other occasions.
#'Rijas mÄte' - (''mother of the threshing house'') oversaw the shelling of
grain and other threshing-related activities.
#'Sēņu mÄte' - (''mother of
mushrooms'') presided over mushrooms and mushroom gathering.
#'SmilÅ¡u mÄte' - (''mother of sands'') held dominion over
death.
#'Sniega mÄte' - (''mother of
snow'') held dominion over snow.
#'Tirgus mÄte' - (''mother of the market'') held dominion over a marketplace and commerce.
#'Ūdens mÄte' - (''mother of
water'') presided over small bodies of water such as wells and ponds.
#'Upes mÄte' - (''mother of
rivers'') presided over rivers.
#'VÄ“ja mÄte' - (''mother of wind'') a goddess of the wind, forests and birds, as well as a patron of sailors.
#'Veļu mÄte' - (''mother of veļi'') a goddess of the dead and Queen of Viņsaule, the world of the dead. She is clothed in a white,
wool cape. Veļu mate is also called Kapu mate ("Graveyard mother"), and is said to receive the dead at
cemeteries. She is also identified with the fertility goddess Zemes mate ("mother of the soil").
#'Zemes mÄte' - (''mother of the soil'') a fertility goddess who was also identified with Veļu mate, the goddess of the dead.
#'Ziedu mÄte' - (''mother of
flowers'') presided over blossoms and flowers.
#'Kuka mÄte' - (''mother of
wine'') presided over drinking and smoking.
Spirits and demons
#'MÄjas gars' - was a protective household spirits. They brought prosperity and good luck to the family living in the household, if they were properly placated with gifts. Alternative names include Majas kungs.
#'PÅ«Ä·is' - was a household spirit. PÅ«Ä·is flew, stealing items for its master. They can be bought, bred or stolen. Alternative names include Pukys, Puhkis. Today word "PÅ«Ä·is" means dragon or kite (toy).
#'VadÄtÄjs' - (literally ''leader'') was a type of
demon responsible for getting people lost. He can be both visible and invisible, if it appears in invisible form victim realises that he or she is walking in circles, in visible form it appears as friendly being (i.e. kids or dog) and leads victim straight to his death - if victim refuses to follow he later finds himself one step from water.
#'Veļi' - were dead souls, associated with Velns and clouds. The underworld was called Viņsaule. The Veļi visited their old homes during autumn.
#'Velns' - (''devil'') was a
demon. He was married to Ragana. In many stories, the evil Velns was stupid and simply outwitted by shepherds and small boys. Alternative names include Jods.
#'Vilkacis' - (''Warewolf'') was a type of violent monster that was originally a person. It was similar to a
werewolf. Occasionally, a vilkacis brought
treasure or was otherwise beneficial. Alternative names include Vilkatas, Vilkatis.
Other terms and concepts
#'Austras Koks' - (''tree of the east'' or ''tree of the dawn'') was a tree that grew from the start of
Saules' (the sun's) daily journey across the sky. It is usually considered to be an
oak or
birch. Austras Koks had
silver leaves,
copper roots and
gold branches and is located on the shores of the
Daugava River (
Kurzeme),
Vidzeme or
Latgale.
#'Debeskalns' - (''sky mountain'') was the mountain upon which the various gods and goddesses lived. Notwithstanding their homes on Debeskalns, it was believed that deities often walked among mortals posing as ordinary people. Debeskalns has many analogues among
European myths, including
Mount Olympus in
Greek mythology and
Asgard in
Norse mythology.
#'Dieviņš' - (''minor god'') was an
epithet applied to several deities, including Dewing Cereklicing and Dewing Uschinge.
#'Dieva dēli' - were the sons of
Dievs and suitors of
Saules meitas. Their number varied in different accounts. Alternative names include Dieva dehli and
AÅ¡vieniai in
Lithuanian mythology.
#'Dievini' - refers to the minor gods, collectively. They were primarily patrons of households and other specific functions. They were more frequently honored by worshippers than the deities of more power and importance, who were only invoked for emergencies.
#'
Dievturība' - is a modern revival of the traditional religion.
#'
LÄÄplÄ“sis' is an
epic poem by
Andrejs Pumpurs, a Latvian poet, who wrote it between
1872-
1887 based on local legends. LÄÄplÄ“sis is regarded as the Latvian
national epic.
#'
MÄte' - (''mother'') was an epithet applied to some sixty-seventy goddesses. They were clearly distinct goddesses in most or all cases, so the term definitely referred to the mother-goddess of specific phenomena. Alternative spellings include mahte, maate, mate.
#'Saules meitas' - were the daughters of Saule, the sun. They were known primarily from their interaction with suitors, including the Dieva deli.
#'Viņsaule' - (''beyond the sun'') was the land of the dead, ruled by Veļu mate. The shades of people were called veļi. Alternative names include Aizsaule.
External links
Most sites which can be considered an authoritative source are in Latvian.
★
Fundamental Latvian ornamental elements and their meaning (in Latvian)
★
Dievturība, folklora, vēsture
★
Latvian folklore/mythology (in Latvian)
★
Latvian cultural calendar (Latvian high-schlool site, in Latvian)
★
Peter Schmits' seminal 1940-1941 work, Latvian folk beliefs (in Latvian)
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