Mittens
Author: Anothertravelguide.com0 COMMENTS
The Latvians of yore must have been fashion-conscious. For them, mittens were more than merely functional objects to keep the hands warm. Mittens were an essential accessory, with different pairs for weddings, funerals, and everyday life.
Mittens served - and still serve - as special gifts. Sometimes they were worn at the belt, as a decoration. The oldest mittens uncovered by archaeologists in Latvia date to the 14th century. Knitting mittens brings out a keen sense of competition, the colours and patterns varying wildly to prove the mastery of their makers.
Every corner of the country has its own traditions and designs, supplemented by the creativity of the knitter. Raksti - the ornaments and symbols that one sees not only in mittens but also in weavings and other Latvian applied art (and even in the decorations of some buildings) - also means "writings."
Many of the mitten patterns are truly poetic, their names varying by region. For example, a "rabbit's footprint," "crow's-eye," "cat's-tail" and "little cross" are different names for the same ornament.
SHARE:
ABOUT US • CONTACTS • RSS • FOLLOW US: 
ENG LAT
© anothertravelguide.com 2015
Anothertravelguide.com is an internet resource for independent travellers. All addresses listed on anothertravelguide.com - hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. have been tested and evaluated by our authors. All opinions are subjective and anothertravelguide.com takes no responsibility if any of these locations don't live up to your personal expectations, taste or mood, or has undergone serious changes since visited by authors and experts of anothertravelguide.com.