Lithuanian mentions in the Latvian folkfore and vice versa

[Didriksson]

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.

[Breedingvariety]

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

I've never approved of that. I'm more of a brotherhood doctrine.

[Waidewut]

Zirga galva- it is an OK name. If you would say arklio galva- then there would be problems.

[korkolola]

I've never approved of that. I'm more of a brotherhood doctrine.

It's indeed tasteless, but 'brotherhood doctrine'? Never really understood this. I find Poles to be culturally more similar to us But it's an offtopic.

[Didriksson]

It's indeed tasteless, but 'brotherhood doctrine'? Never really understood this. I find Poles to be culturally more similar to us But it's an offtopic.

Seriously??? I had an argument on this with a Lithuanian. I said that culturally I feel closer to Estonians though there isn't a huge difference between Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. And I always have had that stereotype that Lithuanian culturally shares a lot of similarities with Poland.

[Didriksson]

Zirga galva- it is an OK name. If you would say arklio galva- then there would be problems.

Latvians usually even don't understand why Lithuanians call us like that. I learned about it only two years ago, when I just took the map and saw it! I was laughing so much and I still find it funny.

[member]

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.

haha, Lithuanians wanted to present themselves as "the singing nation" but Latvians were the first ones to grab this cliche for "international image" formation.

Actually, lithuanians historically indeed is a singing nation (not that I try to put down Latvians in this aspect), I guess it has to do with linguisic differences that influence singing intonation.

[The Ripper]

Also Estonians call themselves a singing nation, why they even had the singing revolution. Finns used to consider themselves musical but after all those war songs became taboo in '45 we just went quiet.

[Didriksson]

haha, Lithuanians wanted to present themselves as "the singing nation" but Latvians were the first ones to grab this cliche for "international image" formation.

Hehehe, I actually have heard about that. I think this habit of singing generally is really typical for our nations- Latvians, Lithuanians and even Estonians. Lithuanians also have singing and dancing festival, right?

Actually, lithuanians historically indeed is a singing nation (not that I try to put down Latvians in this aspect), I guess it has to do with linguisic differences that influence singing intonation.

Don't worry! I wasn't trying to put Lithuanians down by mentioning that folk song.

But I have no idea how to connect that singing tradition to linguistic differences. btw, do you think that Latvian sounds more melodic in comparison with Lithuanian?

[member]

Also Estonians call themselves a singing nation, why they even had the singing revolution. Finns used to consider themselves musical but after all those war songs became taboo in '45 we just went quiet.

Didn't you have sad songs?

Lithuanians had songs for various occasions and of different themes.. Some of them are rather depressive.