Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Latvian mythology is based primarily off collections of folklore and song texts. Much of the information presented herein, and in the best sources on the subject, is purely speculation based on very limited facts. In AD 98, Tacitus, a Roman, mentioned the worship of mahtes, goddesses in the old Latvian mythology. Tacitus, however, did not speak Latvian and spent little time there. Later, reports of Christianization give similarly unbalanced information. We do know that some tribes had had their religious beliefs declining for some time, and accepted Christianity willingly. Others, such as the Curonians and Semigallians, resisted Christianization. Later texts by authors who presumably knew nothing of Latvian beliefs, substituted supposedly authoritative work substituting Prussiann deities, adding extremely unlikely explanations and etymologies. The deities were believed to live on a mountain called Debeskalns. The Latvians recognized eight different seasons to the year. The end of one season and the beginning of the next was marked by a festival. Modern Season/Latvian Equivalents/Boundary Festivals Winter Winter Time (Ziemas Laiks) Ziemassvetki - Meteni Winter Frost Time (Sersnu Laiks) Meteni - Lieldienas Spring Spring Time (Pavasara Laiks) Lieldienas - Jurgi Spring Planting Time (Sejas Laiks) Jurgi - Jani Summer Threshing Time (Siena Laiks) Jani - Maras Summer Autumn time (Rudens Laiks) Maras - Mikeli Fall Spirits Time (Velu Laiks) Mikeli - Martini Fall Ice Time (Ledus Laiks) Martini - Ziemassvetki Other holidays: Barbes Diena Bertuli Diena Biezputras Diena Binduli Diena Dveselu Diena Gregoru Diena Jekaupa Diena Kazimiras Diena Kustonu Diena Labrenca Diena Pelnu Diena Septinu Bralu Diena Septinu Guletaju Diena Tanis Diena Tipsa Diena Tris Kungu Diena Urbanas Diena Veja Diena Vitus Diena Zalu Diena Zirgu Diena List of deities and other terms Auseklis Austras Koks Bangu mate Cela mate Cerklicing Darzamate Dekla Dekla mate Dewing Uschinge Dewing Dieva deli Dievini Dievs Dievturiba Gausu mate Janis Jumis Juras mate Kapu mate Karta mate Karta Krumu mate Laima Lapu mate Lauka mate Lauku mate Lazdu mate Lietus mate Linu mate Lopes mate Lopu mate Majas gars Mara Martins mate Meness Meza Dievs Meza mate Meza Virs Mieza mate Miglas mate Mikelis Moschel Perkons Pirta mate Pukis Ragana Rijas mate Saule Saules meitas Senu mate Smilsu mate Sniega mate Tirgus mate Udens mate Upes mate Usins Vadatajs Veja mate Veli Velns Velu mate Vilkacis Zalksti Zemes mate Ziedu mate Ziemala mamulina Zvaigznes This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.