Latvian Mythology - Other Practices

Other Practices

There may have been a number of other spirits and deities venerated by Latvians. There is, for example, wide range of deities referred to as ”mother” – their number is variously estimated to be anywhere from 50 to 115. The reasons for such unclarity are that sometimes authenticity of certain "mothers” is questioned, there may be differences between regions in what deities are worshiped and also many of these are synonymous titles of a single deity. Mother and other kinship terms can be used merely to signify age and also to show respect (when referring to older people). While most female spirits are called "mothers”. Male spirits would be called "father” (tēvs) or "master” (kungs) or "god” (dievs, dieviņš) or "spirit” (gars, gariņš). Historical sources report that there was a belief that spirits live in the ground. There also are Mājas gari (house spirits) or Mājas kungs (master of house), who lived and were worshiped at homes. These sometimes were sacred animals. They were often fed first bit of every food. Spirits and deities were also worshiped in designated places, which could be visited only at certain times of year. Visiting them at other times or defiling, even unknowingly, such site in any way would bring great misfortune to guilty party - blindness or death are common examples. There were also animals, some known as dieva sunīšī (dogs of god), killing whom would bring misfortune, these include stoats, wolf, frogs, ladybirds etc. Sometimes, however, it was believed that killing would not bring misfortune, but if animal would get away it would take a horrific revenge. This mostly refers to snakes. Wolves, snakes were also not to be mentioned by name. There are similar beliefs of not mentioning the devil or plague. The reason for this taboo is belief that the being, harmful to humans, would come as called. Similarly whistling in certain places would invite devil, while singing would invite god. Therefore large variety of euphemisms were used instead, including comparisons, human names and other anthropomorphic terms – e.g. snakes were likened to ropes or called brides, while wolf was named Juris or Ansis or referred to as man (also brother or friend) of the forest.