Mittens for NATO1

Latvian mittens, cimdi, from Latvia's four major regions

What did 9,000 hands have in common during the NATO Summit in Riga this November? 4,500 pairs of traditional hand-made Latvians mittens!

That’s what the NATO Summit Latvia Task Force prepared for Summit guests. The mittens were specially knitted by hundreds of women and men around the country ranging in age from 30 to 86.

Each pair featured a unique design, utilizing a wide variety of traditional colors, patterns and symbols. For Latvians, mittens are much more than a way to warm your hands. Every ethnographic Latvian mitten tells a story, marks an anniversary and represents a specific region in Latvia (Vidzeme, Zemgale, Latgale and Kurzeme.) Some mitten designs are specially intended for weddings or other special events. There is also a rich tradition of folkloric etiquette associated with the wearing, storing and displaying of mittens.

Mittens for men and women are different in size. Men’s mittens in general are bigger. In addition, more dramatic and reserved colours are characteristic for men’s mittens, while the colours in women’s gloves are brighter and more cheerful.

Ornamentation elements “blend in” as one moves from one neighbouring region into the next. Therefore, the identification of a mitten to a particular region can be characterized more precisely by the composition of its colours and shades rather than by its design. Latgale is a land of linen; linen-grey light colourings predominate in gloves of this region. Similarly, bright and joyful colours are characteristic for Latgale and also Kurzeme. Also the word “rakstaini” more precisely characterizes mittens from Kurzeme, because their ornamentation is more intricate than in other regions. Calm and vibrant earthy colours are the basis of mittens from Zemgale, while light and beige colourings are typical for Vidzeme.

This project was a special source of national pride, because it combined tradition, culture and history with something of lasting practical value that will go on to be enjoyed around the world.

Mittens galleries

Every pair of mittens created for the summit was photographed. Accordingly, there are roughly 500 to 1,000 images per gallery.

Common questions about the NATO Summit mittens

1. Why were especially knitted mittens given to the guests of the NATO Riga Summit?

   Latvia’s ethnographic knitted mittens are one of the treasures of Latvian culture and part of the wealth of Latvia’s ethnographic ornamentation. Mittens are symbolic of Latvia. Each of them will be a product of individual handwork whose quality is recognised worldwide and will be a special souvenir of Latvia, as every pair of mittens will be unique.

2. Who received the mittens?

   The ethnographic mittens were given to NATO Summit delegations and media representatives, who took home with them to more than 26 Nations all over the world a unique souvenir of special cultural significance to Latvians. for Latvians .

3. How many pairs of mittens were knitted?

   All together Latvian master handicrafts women and men knitted 4,500 pairs of mittens in the different ethnographic ornamentation and colours of the Vidzeme, Zemgale, Kurzeme and Latgale regions.

4. Who knitted the mittens for the NATO Summit guests?

   Women from the rural association called “Akorande” knitted mittens with the ornamentation of the Kurzeme and Latgale regions, and the handiwork company “Ramid” knitted mittens from the regions of Vidzeme and Zemgale.

5. How many knitters were involved in the knitting process?

   In total, 268 knitters were involved in the knitting process, all women other than 3 men.

6. From which region did most of the knitters come from?

   Most of the knitters came from Vidzeme. It is interesting though, that they did not knit mittens from their own region but together with the Latgale’ knitters produced mittens with the ornamentation of the Latgale region. For their part, the Latgale’s knitters made mittens with the ornamentation from the Vidzeme and Zemgale regions, while the Zemgale’s and Kurzeme’s knitters produced mittens typical of the Kurzeme region.

7. How many pairs of mittens did one person knit on average?

   In those regions of Latvia where there are fewer knitters, one knitter had to make up to 30 pairs of mittens. However, in regions with more knitters, one knitter typically made about 3 pairs of mittens.

8. What was the average age of knitters?

   The average age of the knitters was 60 years, but spanning a wide range of years. The youngest was 30 years old and the oldest knitting master was 86 years old.

9. How many pairs of mittens could be knitted during a day?

   The longer the experience, the faster mittens are produced. It takes about two days to make one pair of mittens. The most skillful knitters can make a pair of mittens in a day.

10. How much wool was used for one pair of mittens?

    Up to 90 grams of wool can be necessary for one pair of mittens. In order to knit all the proposed mittens, approximately 383 kilograms of wool were used. 38 sheep were sheared to gather the amount of wool necessary for all the mittens, an average of 10 kilograms per sheep. (Sheep yield anywhere from one to a dozen or so kilograms per shearing, depending on breed and interval between shearings.)

11. What are the differences between men's and women's mittens?

    First of all, mittens for men and women are different in size. Men’s mittens are bigger. In addition, more dramatic and reserved colours are characteristic for men’s mittens. The colours in women’s gloves are brighter and more cheerful.

12. How does the mitten ornamentation of the Vidzeme, Zemgale, Latgale and Kurzeme regions differ?

    As mentioned, ornamentation elements blend moving from region to region, so identification of mittens to a region is based on colours and shading. Below, some mittens typical of each region.

    

    Latgale is a land of linen; therefore linen-grey light colourings predominate in gloves of this region. Similarly, bright and joyful colours are characteristic for Latgale and also Kurzeme.
    

    Also the word “rakstaini” more precisely characterizes mittens from Kurzeme, because their ornamentation is brighter than in other regions.
    

    Calm and vibrant earthy colours are the basis of mittens from Zemgale.
    

    However, light and beige colourings are typical for Vidzeme.
13. Interesting Latvian beliefs about mittens
    • Mittens and socks should be knitted in summer, then they will be warm, soft and strong. (From A. Zvejniece, Lubāna.)
    • One should not wash new mittens when there is an old moon, they will lose their color and let through the wind. (From K. Zilbers, Meņģele.)
    • One should not wipe their nose in a mitten. Whoever does that never gets rich. (From J. Andriņš, Taurkalns.)
    • One should not give their hand to another with a mitten on, otherwise they will give away their luck. (From A. Tidriķe, Pabažu jūrmala.)