As an interesting note about the antiquity of latgallian people, latvian language is an evolution from latganian language assimilated with the other tribes aforementioned.
But there´s the special thing of Latgallian tribe and the other three peoples that prevailed on history which are the folkloric symbols and in the present day are very likely the best identification of Latvia itself:
These symbols support how rich it´s the latvian folk history and the heritage that still maintain on latvian´s minds.
Several characteristics of latvian symbols include geometrical forms: lines and angular corners broken in more curvy and circular lines. All of them with a meaning behind, such deities and nature representations.
There are around 1000 symbols actually, but mostly variations of other symbols. In fact, we could actually mention the main symbols, which are and represent this:
The sign of the God.
Represents in general everything that is up, in the skies. Also manpower and that is up. Latvian mythology puts the sky as the oldest cult topic, because there is where lives the most powerful entity: the gods.
Sign of Māra
Māra is the symbol of material world, defender of women, plot giver and ruler of earth and underground. Goddess – mothers have important meaning in Latvian mythology. After death people are protected by Mother of Earth and its world and this goddess rules over other mother-gods: mother of Forest, mother of Wind, mother of Sea, mother of Milk, mother of Cattle, mother of Velis (Ghosts and Souls). Also by overruling underground world this character is back in the role of Mara.
The waters of Māra
This sign is understood as symbol of water. Maybe because of it is common, that this sign symbolizes Māra as mother of Seas and Lakes, Rivers etc. It’s believed, that simple horizontal line symbolizes Māra as mother of Land and this sign is called the Land of Māra. Checks are one type of common geometrical signatures, already used in Early Stone Age. The use of check as symbol becomes popular in Iron Age. In the sample artworks of public artists this sign can be found many times.
The Cross of Māra
We can see that Lady Māra was very important in the ancient Latvia. Māra rules material world, including bread, fire and its process of keeping. Maybe because of this believe, this "cross of crosses" was drawn on the top of fresh baked bread and in the evenings also into the ashes of fireplace, and this cross was named Cross of Māra. If crossing the ends of cross lines, we obtain sign that points closeness, completeness and also death. Sign is close related to fire, house and productivity (fertility).
Sign of Laima
Sign of Laima is proved to be the oldest of signs known in Latvian culture. In East Baltic that is one of the common bone jewelries made in Middle Stone Age (so this means that it was REALLY old to be found in this age). Laima is known as people’s life path giver, in folklore that is the being that chooses everyone’s destiny and looks for it is done as expected. Laima represents special kind of gods – Gods of destiny. Latvian folklore has three of that kind – Laima, Dekla and Karta, and in most of the situations Laima alone substitutes two last ones in the latest folklore.
Swab of Laima
The similarities of sign of Laima with feather of bird makes thoughts, that it is present from the times, when animals were worshipped. Earlier bird was the symbol of soul and Laima is supposed to be protector of souls. So the symbolic view of Laima is also the swab, so when cleaning house to this aspect is pointed the most of its popularity. Laima always had broom as the symbol by her side or close to her, with it Laima swish the newborn child in the bathhouse. The swab of Laima is also common in the ornaments of belts and ribbons. Graphically the swab of Laima is grouped as needle symbol. Swab symbolizes the action that all the worst things and information is driven away from house, also used to call ‘the bad eyes’.
Sign of the sun
We see sky in two ways – sky in day and sky in night. The ancient believes of different nations about sky objects (like stars) have different meaning. Latvian folklore specially points that central star of the space is Saule (Sun). Sun is symbol of eternal movement and life. In the line of other stars, Sun is placed in one of the highest hierarchical star rating. Sun sees everything and knows everything. In the territory of Latvia Sun symbols are found on bone tools already in Late Stone Age. Rhomb or cube is also seen as symbol of Sun and is seen on the ceramics of Middle Stone Age, making it one of the oldest symbols.
Moon is presented as husband of Sun and also the Sun has really wide relative list. We can meet father of Sun, mother of Sun, daughters of Sun, brothers of Sun, children of Sun, sons of Sun and so on. Behind other symbols, Sun is placed to be in the most honorable position any symbol can be. It is also because Sun is represented as mother of all children.
All drawings of Sun are always circle typed (egg, ball, golden acorn etc), who symbolizes the Sun’s trajectory in the sky. At the simplest level, Sun can be displayed as circle. All the detailed Sun projections have one common point – the center of this circle is always double crossed or specially pointed out. The detail count of Sun symbol are countless, for a common is supposed to be detailed multi-angle – eight-sided symbol, but also there are simple four-angle symbol.
In Latvian art the motive of Sun is displayed on every possible items. If Sun is displayed more than few times in one row, it symbolizes special magical productivity and warmness rituals. Symbol of Sun is specially used in women’s clothes and jewelry, most of the Sun symbols are also found on those tools that is used for own goods made.
Sign of the moon
Moon is one of the central astrological star symbols and is present in all ancient civilizations. In Latvia this sign in known from Late Stone Age century (quite old, right?). Moon sign is used with Sun or other star symbols. The background story of Moon is to take care of other stars kind of taking the role of father. So sweet as mother Sun but Moon is not, but still it has high respect. Symbol of Moon is close related to agriculture cult. Peasants knew, that Moon affects food growth, that’s why they worshipped Moon. Growing or decrescent Moon is also sign of growth and disasters. Moon is also supposed to be protector of soldiers and with this symbol was present in the clothes of men who had to fight in battle.
Sign of star
This is third important sign if lining sky symbols. The drawings of stars have a magical meaning in Latvian folklore – sign is protecting from evil. If your bed sheet is covered with star symbols then bed sheet protects the sleeper from bad spirits. Star symbol is commonly in straight or turned cross style.
Cross of the fire
Cross of the fire (or Thunder cross) is one of the oldest ancient gods and is also called as the Old Father. In Latvia Thunder cross is mentioned from 3-4 century (proved in archeological digs). In early iron century it is forged in bronze accessories.
This symbol means: happiness, energy, fire, thunder and wind. This sign has huge display variants. Fire cross is related to Sun, Laima and Thunder, so this sign was popular to cut into the beds of children and to interweave into belts for newborn children to wrap them in. In Latvia up to this day it is used for shirts, gloves, socks for protection against evil eyes.
The sign of Thunder is well known in whole world over 5000 years, starting from Asia up to Northern America. So it´s not something born in the previous century, you know what I mean.
Sign of Jumis
Probably one of the most popular ones, and is used for rituals to produce growth of plants...and fertilize stuff in general. Graphically this symbol reminds character "W". One explanation of this symbol could be in joining Māra’s and God symbols. This sign is found on very old items, also on sacred stones.
Jumis is a mythical being that is supposed to live in two together grown flowers or nuts, traditionally also two ears. Jumis do all in double. Jumis if found was held in the most valuable place at room. As for graphical drawing, this symbol has various models from whom several are hard to recognize. Sometimes Jumis symbol is placed on the rooftop of house, presenting the healthy living under the roof.
The adder
It symbolizes wiseness and crafts. Supposed to be saint animal, thus has access to worldwide knowledge. The white ones are the most powerful. It is signed for one of the Māra’s sign group, because Māra could transform into snake. Also this sign is available on women’s clothes and bathhouse things.
The Ūsiņš sign
This sign is like two "E" characters, only placed together with their backs. From folklore, Ūsiņš is responsible for horses and light and is their God. Sometimes he is like father, also there are mentioned his sons and horses. Ancient believes say that Ūsiņš is one of the Sky’s gods. But mostly Ūsiņš is related to spring, the new working year start for peasants and their care about horses.
So these are the main symbols. But remember, they are only the main and that the variants are many more, reaching to hundreds of different symbols. Thus meaning that latvian folk has a huge background and it´s part of all the viking pop culture we know best.
All this wisdom guide was taken from this page, where the definitions are explained clearly:
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