Latvian Symbols: Māra, the Moon and the Language of Folk Ornament

Latvian folk ornament is rich in geometric signs, woven into belts and mittens, carved into wood and painted on household objects. Many of these signs now carry names linking them to the figures of Latvian folklore: Dievs, the sky god; Māra, the mother figure; Laima, the goddess of fate; and Mēness, the Moon.

The figures behind the signs

Latvian folksongs, the dainas, speak of Dievs, Māra and Laima as the three central divine figures. Māra gathers in many "mothers", of the earth, the sea, the forest and more, while Laima shapes a person's fate. In Catholic Latgale, Māra merged with the Virgin Mary, and many scholars consider her name itself an adaptation of Maria.

Where the sign names come from

The patterns are old; many of their names are newer. A good deal of the modern system of named Latvian signs was shaped in the twentieth century, notably by the artist Ernests Brastiņš, who linked ornament to the figures of folk religion. Modern charts are therefore a valuable guide to how Latvians read these signs today, but not always evidence of what the patterns meant to earlier generations.

The signs

• Māras krusts, Māra's cross: the "cross of crosses".
• Māras zeme, Māra's land: a sign of the earth in Māra's keeping.
• Mēness krusts, the Moon cross, associated with Mēness.
• Slīpais krusts, the diagonal cross, found in folk ornament and at thresholds.

Latvian signs in jewellery

Latvian signs are a living part of national culture, worn with pride and often given as gifts. AURYN's Latvian designs can be found in the charms collection.