The Collection of Latvian Charms, gathered from various places around Latvia, were submitted to the Archives of Latvian Folklore mostly in the 1920s and 1930s; a number of exhibits were also contributed after 1991. The collection consists mainly of original, small-format, handmade books, or also a copy or transcript of the original. The collection also includes compilations of charms submitted separately, and folk medicine recipes with instructions on how to use them.
The tradition of writing down charms in handmade books or notebooks was widespread in Latvia during the second half of the 19th century. This practice was related to the circulation of handwritten ‘Books of Heaven’, which were used to protect their holders or their holders’ houses from misfortune. Many of the books are similar in content, testifying to their common derivation. These books were said to have divine origins. Some came down to earth in the city of London, others through the intercession of the angel Michael; some expressed gratitude for miraculous salvation from death, such as in the case of Count Philip’s servant, who by miracle kept his head, or General Skobolev, who survived many battles. Some books also included lucky and unlucky days—when certain activities should be performed or avoided. The Charm books include a second section containing spells for treating various human and animal ailments—to staunch bleeding, to relieve pain, to cure ergotism, and others.
The Collection of Latvian Charms contains around 5000 items—mainly charms and folk medicine. Various private collectors have donated materials—school children, such as Pēteris Šmits from Rencēni, who donated his father’s book of charms; well–known historians, authors, and cultural workers—Vilis Cedriņš, Vilberts Krasnais, Arturs Heniņš, and others; and folklore researchers—Jānis Alberts Jansons, Baiba Krogzeme-Mosgorda, and Janīna Kursīte.
Thumbnail | Unit No. | pp. | Title | Categories | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1 | Svēti vārdi | |||
![]() | 2 | Vīveļu vārdi | charms Vīveļu vārdi Vīveļu vārdi | ||
![]() | 3 | Liesas vārdi | charms Glanders Charms Liesas vārdi | ||
![]() | 4 | Sāpes vārdi | Sāpju vārdi Sāpju vārdi | ||
![]() | 5 | Rozes vārdi | charms Snake Charms Erysipelas Čūsku vārdi Rozes vārdi | ||
![]() | 5a | Čūsku vārdi | charms Vārdi čūsku nesatikt | ||
![]() | 5b | Rozes vārdi | charms Erysipelas | ||
![]() | 6 | Zagļu vārdi | charms Thief Charms Zagļu vārdi | ||
![]() | 7 | Debesu grāmata | charms Book of Saint Michael Unlucky Days Holy Stories | ||
![]() | 8 | Vārdošana | charms Charming Vārdošanas vārdi | ||
![]() | 9 | Asins apturēšanas vārdi | charms narrative on usage of charms Bleeding Charms Asins apturēšanas vārdi Runāt Asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 10 | Asins apturēšanas vārdi | charms narrative on usage of charms Bleeding Charms Asins apturēšanas vārdi Runāt Jordāna Asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 11 | Asins apturēšanas vārdi | charms narrative on usage of charms Bleeding Charms Asins apturēšanas vārdi Runāt Asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 12 | Asins apturēšanas vārdi | charms Bleeding Charms Asins apturēšanas vārdi 3 Jumpravas Jordāna Asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 13 | Iecirtuma vārdi | charms narrative on usage of charms Notch/ Cutting Charms Pain Charms Runāt Svēta/ laimīga ir tā diena/ stunda Iecirtuma vārdi | ||
![]() | 14 | Asins apturēšanas vārdi | charms narrative on usage of charms Bleeding Charms Asins apturēšanas vārdi Darīt Rakstīt Sequences of Letters Asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 15 | Asins/ sarkanās vainas vārdi | charms Bleeding Charms Asins/sarkanās vainas vārdi Jūdzes turp/ atpakaļ Asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 16 | Priekš sirds asins apturēšanas | charms Sirds asins vārdi 3/9 Lilijas Sirds asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 17 | Asins vārdi | charms Bleeding Charms Asins apturēšanas vārdi Sator Asins vārdi | ||
![]() | 18 | Priekš sirds asins apturēšanas | charms narrative on usage of charms Sirds asins vārdi Darīt Runāt Sirds asins vārdi |
Thumbnail | Title | Type | No. | Year | Author | Additional information | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Eduards Venters | Photo | 4506a |
Thumbnail | Type | Folder | File code | Languages | Transcription (text) | Metadata | Transcription (music) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0001 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0002 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0003 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0004 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0005 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0006 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0007 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0008 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0009 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0010 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0011 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0012 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0013 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0014 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0015 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0016 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0017 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0018 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0019 | lv | No | Yes | No | |
![]() | Manuscript | Buramvardi-01 | 0150-Buramvardi-01-0020 | lv | No | Yes | No |
# | Location | Relation | Date | Type | Category | Vietas tips | Text fragment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Drusti (Drusti, Drustu pagasts, Raunas novads) | Text unit - 5 | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
2 | Drusti (Drusti, Drustu pagasts, Raunas novads) | Text unit - 5b | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
3 | Drusti (Drusti, Drustu pagasts, Raunas novads) | Text unit - 5a | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
4 | Strīkas (Prauliena, Praulienas pagasts, Madonas novads) | Text unit - 3169 | 1807 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
5 | Mālupe (Mālupe, Mālupes pagasts, Alūksnes novads) | Text unit - 3796 | 1842 | Place of hearing | (not set) | Ciems | |
6 | Bērzaune (Bērzaune, Bērzaunes pagasts, Madonas novads) | Text unit - 3440 | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
7 | Bērzaune (Bērzaune, Bērzaunes pagasts, Madonas novads) | Text unit - 3439 | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
8 | Bērzaune (Bērzaune, Bērzaunes pagasts, Madonas novads) | Text unit - 3438 | 1852 | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
9 | Līvāni (Līvāni, Līvānu novads) | Text unit - 3598 | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Pilsēta | |
10 | Bērzaune (Bērzaune, Bērzaunes pagasts, Madonas novads) | Text unit - 3442 | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
11 | Bērzaune (Bērzaune, Bērzaunes pagasts, Madonas novads) | Text unit - 3441 | 1858 | Place of recording | (not set) | Ciems | |
12 | Līvāni (Līvāni, Līvānu novads) | Text unit - 3599 | (not set) | Place of recording | (not set) | Pilsēta | |
13 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3086 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
14 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3126 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
15 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3116 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
16 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3117 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
17 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3118 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
18 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3119 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
19 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3120 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta | |
20 | Krāču Piņņi (Tirzas pagasts, Gulbenes novads, LV-4424) | Text unit - 3121 | 1860 | Place of recording | (not set) | Viensēta |