Seminar “Gods of 'Labietis'”

The research group of the Archives of Latvian Folklore at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia, in cooperation with the Museum “Latvians Abroad”, continues the seminar series “Latvian Folklore Studies in Exile”. We invite you to the second seminar, “Gods of “Labietis””, which will take place on November 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the museum’s premises in Riga, at 84 Dzirnavu Street.

“Labietis” is the most significant journal of the Latvian Dievturi movement, whose origins date back to Latvia in the 1930s. After the Second World War, the principles underlying the magazine’s content were also carried over into exile in Sweden (1946–1947) and the United States (since 1955), where its thematic scope was expanded to include accounts of the activities of Dievturi and their supporters in exile, reprints from the interwar issues of “Labietis”, and new Dievturi research.

In exile, the purpose of “Labietis” has been to preserve, develop and pass on the seemingly ancient Latvian paganism or religion, constructed by the leaders of the Dievturi movement, to protect it from attacks by its opponents, and, drawing on Latvian folklore, to continue the story of its gods - of the sacred world of the Latvians, everyday life, rites and celebrations, values, traditions, crafts, and their preservation and revival. This is a story not only about the gods, but also about people, their achievements and their beliefs.

The evening will begin with a lecture by Gatis Ozoliņš, followed by conversations in an informal atmosphere. The seminar is free of charge, and no prior registration is required. Everyone is warmly welcome!

The seminar series is organised within the Latvian Council of Science funded project No. lzp-2024/1-0522, “Latvian Folklore Studies in Exile”.