Smiltene cover

The cover's background shows a traditional weave pattern; inside are an illustration of a full folk costume and various details: shirt (blouse), shoulder and cuff embroidery, bodice, brooch, and shawl. The flip side provides brief overviews in French, English, Russian, and Latvian.

Nīca

Nīca district within Latvia today

The village of Nīca is located on the Bārta River, about 21 km (13 miles) south of Liepāja, near Latvia's Baltic sea coast. Today's Nīcas pagasts (Nīca parish) is a combination of the historical Nīca and Otaņķi parish.

The Nīca women's folk costume is particularly renowned for its intricate and colorful design. Its most distinctive elements are its red skirt, orantely embroidered white shawl, and crown. Its primary colors are red, white, gray, and silver: red as a symbol of an active and healthy life; white for virtue and eternity; while silver—the effect of the glass beads sewn into the crown—embodies hidden power as in moonlight and starlight.1

Sample of Nīca embroidery, woolen yarn on linen fabric. Latvian Chamber of Agriculture, 1938

The Nīca folk costume is a particular favorite among Latvians, including former Latvian president Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga.

Shawl detail,
Original at katramsavutautasterpu.lv

Read more

1This description and sample of the women's vest shown here is adapted from Strinca, P. Nīca laikmetu griežos, 2008.
This work is in the public domain. Commentary and additional materials are protected/reused under Latvian Copyright Law Ch. II § 5 ¶ 1.1 and Ch. V § 19 ¶ 1.2.
latvians.com qualifies as a protected collection under Latvian Copyright Law Ch. II § 5 ¶ 1.2.
© 2024, S.A. & P.J. Vecrumba | Contact [at] latvians.com Terms of Use Privacy Policy Facebook ToS Peters on Twitter Silvija on Twitter Peters on Mastodon Hosted by Dynamic Resources