LATVIEŠU DAINAS EKOKRITIKAS SKATĪJUMĀ.

Nowadays, facing the contradictory views of consumers of natural resources and. nature conservationists, it is not only important to make new insights, but also to take an in-depth look back into the history. About two thirds of Latvian folk songs are thematically related, to nature and its elements (forest with trees, plants, stones, water) and. living creatures (birds and. animals, insects, fish). In Latvian folklore, we find, more than 100 female spirits - Mothers, who supervised, various areas of human lives. The oldest of the Mothers were the ones who supervised the elements of nature and who were themselves the embodiments of these elements. Believing that Mothers were embodied, in nature, people treated, nature with reverence, sacrificing part of their benefits to individually selected trees, springs, stones, fire. Perhaps, this is how the idea of sacred, forests had developed., where only priests could, go (for example, holy birch groves of Curonian kings in Kurzeme), and. other shrines that were carefully demarcated, and. protected, from the eyes of strangers. Mother Earth, mentioned, in Latvian folklore, was the one who ruled, over the cyclical replacement of natural beings and objects by giving birth to them, but, when the right time came, paving the way to the end of their lives. If Mother Earth inhabited, the bottom level of the cosmic space, then Mother Wind. and. Mother Air ruled, over the upper level of the Earth. The activity of Mother Thunder extended, from the upper part to the lower part of the cosmic space, taking care of the fertile rain coming from heaven to the earth. The non-cosmic part of nature is represented, in folklore by Mother Forest, who oversaw not only plants, animals, birds, but also people in the forest, who looked, for food or trees for felling. The functions of the guardian, including the care of people and. animals, are also attributed, to Mother Bush. It is believed, that ancient people expected, specific benefits and favor from Mothers of Hazelnuts, Berries, and. Mushrooms. Mother Sun, Mother Fog, Mother Snow, and. Mother Night, were related to specific season and. day or night time (sun, fog, snow and winter). Several Mothers (Mother Water, Mother Sea, Mother Lake, Mother River) were attributed to the element of water. It is believed, that sacrifices were given to Mother Fire, who embodied, the element of fire. Examining Latvian folk songs and. other folklore sources, Mothers embodying the forces of cosmic space, were seen not only as creators and. masters of nature objects, but. also as destroyers and. then rebirthers, symbolizing the cyclical phases of nature life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]