Lithuanian mentions in the Latvian folkfore and vice versa

[Waidewut]

I was wondering whether there are traces of Latvian-related topics in the Lithuanian folklore. Would be interesting to see hundred year old stereotypes of each other.

Lithuanians in Latvian folk songs

Leiši leiši mani brāļi,
Garām manu sētu jāja!
Mūžam leiši paliekat,
Ja iekšā nenākat.

Lithuanians, Lithuanians my brothers,
Were riding past my yard!
You'll stay Lithuanian forever,
If you won't come in

Leiti, Leiti, Leitiņà?
Manu baltu brāleliņ!
Vaj tadēļ Leitis bija,
Kad tam Leišu cepurite.

Lithuanian, Lithuanian, in Lithuania?
My white brother?
Was he a Lithuanian,
because of his Lithuanian hat.

Rūci, rūci, pērkoniti,
Skaldi tiltu Daugavâ,
Lai nenāca Poļi, Leiši
Manâ tēvu zemitê.

Rumble, rumble, thunder,
Hack the bridge over Daugava,
So that Poles, Lithuanians couldn't come
Into my fatherland.

Krievi, Krievi, ko gaidat,
Leiši (Poļi) nāca šâi zemê!
Trinat piešus, aunat kājas,
Seglojat kumeliņus.

Russians, Russians, what are you waiting for,
Lithuanians (Poles) are coming into this land!
Sharpen your spurs, put on your boots,
Saddle your horses

Krievi, Krievi, Leiši, Leiši
Mani balti bàleliņi:
Cits Krievôs, cits Leišôs,
Cits dziļâi Vāczemê.

Russians, Russians, Lithuanians, Lithuanians
My white brothers:
Ones in Russia, other is in Lithuania,
Other is deep in Germany.

Līgojam divi vien,-
Kur mēs trešo dabusim?
Bridisim pār upiti,
Tur mēs trešo dabusim.
Vaj būs Polis, vaj būs Leitis,
Vaj dižans tēva dēls.

We are celebrating only two-
Where will we get the third one?
Lets go over the river.
There we will find the third one.
Will he be a Pole, will he be Lithuanian,
Or a great fathers' son (Latvian).

These are only few examples, for now.

Notice how Latvian folk songs often demonstrate unwelcome attitude towards Lithuanians. This is so about Germans, but about Russians it is often not so negative and sometimes even positive. I explain this with Latvians being partly biased because of possible Tsarist attitude towards the possibly disloyal non-Russian nobility here and in Lithuania. After all, these songs were written down precisely during the Russian times in Latvia.

[The Ripper]

Its quite natural that the Tzar was seen as someone who could help the commoners against the German/other nobility. In Finland the Russian Tzar was very respected, while his bureaucrats and enforcers were often seen as acting in their own interest, without the knowledge of the Tzar.

This for example explains the Great Address following the February Manifesto, where Finns gathered an astonishing number of signatures and delivered them to the Tzar, who they thought would rectify the situation and annull the Manifesto. They were surprised that the Tzar would not even receive them, although he did assure them that he was not angry with them.

[member]

Lithuanians used to attack Latvians before the Ordin's coming. Actually Latvians were pretty poor because of that. maybe I'll later find that fragment I've read. Though I don't think it refered to Curonians who were known for attacking Vikings.

In later times (Ordin rule) Balts had to fight against each other, but they didn't always do it eagerly.

The nothern war also brought a lot of disasters. "famine, plague, war".


Google could not find anything like that. maybe I'll try to tomorrow with different keywords.

[Waidewut]

Its quite natural that the Tzar was seen as someone who could help the commoners against the German/other nobility. In Finland the Russian Tzar was very respected, while his bureaucrats and enforcers were often seen as acting in their own interest, without the knowledge of the Tzar.

This for example explains the Great Address following the February Manifesto, where Finns gathered an astonishing number of signatures and delivered them to the Tzar, who they thought would rectify the situation and annull the Manifesto. They were surprised that the Tzar would not even receive them, although he did assure them that he was not angry with them.

Well the founders of the Latvian political nation, the so called Young Latvians had a rather slavophilic ideology and were one of the most passionate russification supporters within the Latvian politic scene.
Obviously they wanted to get rid of the German privileges and saw germanization as a far more larger threat than russification.

_____________________________________________

While I'm at it...

Poļi, Leiši naudu skaita
Juglas tilta galiņâ,
Dzīràs pirkt Vidzemiti
Ar visàm zeltenèm.

Poles, Lithuanians are counting money,
On the end of the Jugla bridge,
Wanting to buy Vidzeme/Livonia
Together with all the maidens.

Krievôs devu sav' māsiņu,
Leišôs ņēmu līgaviņu.
Eim' Krievôs, eim' Leišôs,
Visur mani znotu sauc,

I gave my sister to a Russian,
Took a Lithuanian bride.
Went to Russia, went to Lithuania,
Everywhere I'm called son-in-law

This is from the naughty songs category.

Atskaties tu, Anniņa,
Kas tavê pakaļê:
Pieci Leiši pakaļê,
Visi biksas nolaiduši.

Look back Anne,
Who is behind you:;
5 Lithuanians behind you,
All have trousers pulled down.

Saki, saki, sakulit,
Ko redzeji Lietavâ?
-Es redzeju Lietavâ
Vasku pili nodegot;
Vasku pili nodegot,
Atkal jaunu mūrejot.

Tell me, tell me,
What did you see in Lithuania?
-I saw in Lithuania
A wax castle burning down;
A wax castle burning down,
The building of a new one.

Lietavnieki, vella bērni,
Ieved mani Lietavâ;
Augsti zirgi, zemi vārti,
Norauj manu vainadziņu.

Lithuanians, devils children,
Took me to Lithuania,
High horses, low gates,
Tore off my chaplet.

Es gribeju Leišu zemi
Zilu guni dedzinàt;
Tikai vien iegādaju,
Māsa Leišu robežâs.

I wanted Lithuania,
to burn in blue flames;
Only I remembered,
My sister is in Lithuania.

[member]

I couldn't find it, sorry, I found mentions of several books that perhaps contain this information, but they're not put on the internet.

[Didriksson]

I think those folk songs again prove different fates and paths that Latvians and Lithuanians had. And if I remember some of the articles about Balts during the middle ages, then they constantly were in different type of conflicts while they lived in piece with Finnic Livonians.

And that constant comparison/connection between Poles and Lithuanians still exists today.

And it would be really interesting to see how Latvians are represented in the Lithuanian folk songs.

[korkolola]

Those are funny! Thanks for sharing.
I've never ever heard a song/poem/smth about Latvians in Lithuanian folklore and unfortunately was unable to find anything online...

[Waidewut]

I was hoping of hearing something even more interesting than being called "devil's children" and "burn in blue flames" about Latvians, oh well...

[korkolola]

Seems like people in our region only make songs about bad people/nations, if you know what I mean


Some Lithuanians do call Latvians 'zirga galvas', when p*ssed off, have no clue where the origin of it comes from.

[Didriksson]

I remember reading a folk song about how bad Lithuanians are at singing. You know, Latvians usually say that they are a nation that sings, it's really deep into our culture and mentality while Lithuanians were viewed as bad singers.

I will try to find that folk song.