Latvian traditional ornamental signs have been known for centuries. These signs decorate houses, furniture, pottery and garments – both woven and knitted. In addition to their decorative function, these signs are embedded with much deeper meaning, related to ancient pagan divinity, rhythms of nature and life, prosperity and misfortune.
It is considered that each sign has its energetic expression and purpose. The signs harmonize energies, promote good fortune, prosperity and fertility, thereby protecting from the evil.
The signs are usually used in a personalized way – to trigger some natural force or to protect against bad luck and evil. If used inappropriately, the signs can bring harm.
When knitting, I usually choose the signs that bring good things to the wearer. It is like prescribing medicine – each person needs their own cure. I usually choose the ornamental sign in a very personal way, following my knowledge of the person and intuition.
In the knitted ornaments, there is a secretly coded wish for the wearer. I believe that my knitted ornamental mittens and socks will bring luck through this symbolic power.
Here below I introduce the most popular signs – the symbols, their names (also original names in Latvian) and their meaning , the knitting chart and a picture of knitted items according to this chart.
God (Dievs)
The symbol of God represents sky, as a roof over the earth and its inhabitants.
Mara (Māra)
Māra’s earth sign symbolyzes peace, stability, material life.
Māra’s Water sign, like her Earth sign, symbolizes protection, but emphasizes the changeable, unsettled, and ephemeral nature of this protection.
Māra is often combined with Dievs, the God sign. This combination symbolizes balance, security and harmony.
The Māra cross symbolizes the power of reproduction, motherhood, living substance, active and dynamic.
Related to fertility, fire, home, and the things that bring material well-being.
Protector against misfortune.
Laima (Fate)
The needle, herringbone, pine tree branches – form the basis of the Laima (Fate) symbol. It symbolizes the development of good fortune, not just accidental luck, but luck that is a developmental process, which springs from the rhythms of life.
Laima’s broom symbolizes eternity and rythm of life. It sweeps away the undesider and protects from evil.
The Sun (Saule)
The Sun symbol provides the foundation of life: light, warmth, eternal movement, harmony, family blessings, happiness and health.
There are different varieties of the Sun symbol.
Life (Ūsiņš)
Life is a symbol of light and new beginings, a source of strength, success, healing and nourishing, that protects the weak.
Life symbol is particularly used for horses and bees, symbolic of travelers. Ūsiņšis a god of light -his horses carrythe Sun – and when Ūsiņšis knitted into mittens, brings success to frequent travelers.
Well (Aka)
Aka, Water Well, Oak , double cross – symbol of the base of the world, symbol of the sun and earth, experience and knowledge, unity and world order. Provides peace and balance in life, a repository for the wisdom of ancestors.
The Well sign is related to innovation and creativity – new information, new possibilities, new ideas, plans, and beginnings. Sign that gives courage.
Morning Star (Auseklis)
Morning Star (Auseklis) – the symbol of light, victory of light over dark. Protects from and repels evil spirits. It is considered to be a male god, and protector of men.
Jumis
Jumis – symbolizes well-being and abundance. It is an agricultural symbol. Imagine a spike of barley, which upon full maturity, gives under the weight of the ripened grain, to bend the stalk earthward.
Two such ripe stalks forms the basis of the symbol. Frequently placed on the apex of a roof to bring blessing to the house’s inhabitants. Many variations of this basic sign have evolved, some so complex that the sign is not apparent.
Grass Snake (Zalktis)
Grass Snake – symbol of wisdom, life energy, regeneration and the underworld. Sign that is connected with the healing of body and soul.
Austra’s Tree (Autras koks)
Austra’s Tree is a symbol of the world order, linking past, present and future. It guards the beautiful and valuable. It brings blessings, success and luck.
Star (Zvaigzne)
The Star (Zvaigzne) symbolizes the world in motion, harmony of life and death, and eternity. It is used against underworld spirits, dark and evil.
Cross (Krusts)
Straight cross is the cross of God – representing world order, energy, luck and acts against sicknesses and envy.
Oblique cross is the cross of God – representing dynamic movement, development, productivity, balancing the old and new, the past and present.
The Toad-let (Krupītis)
The Toad-let is a sign representing intangible values – intuition, spirits beyond the Sun, knowledge and wisdom.
Moon (Mēness)
Moon sign – promoting welfare and harvest. Protects soldiers and sportsmen.
Janis sign (Jāņa zīme)
Janis sign is a symbol of male’s power and ferility.
knit fits 