Collection of Latvian Charms

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.