Pie Dieviņa gari galdi / There are long tables at dear God’s place. Latvian folk song
Sings: Aleksandra Spicberga (16), Smiltene, 3th of May 2018.
There are long tables at the God's place, long tables
The dear Māra (Goddess) is sitting there, the dear Māra
The dear Māra is sitting there, the dear Māra
Embroidering the woollen showls, embroidering
Embroidered, counted, counted
Gave into the hands of the God, into hands
Now the dear God, it's your will and power
Now into your hands, hands
Now into your hands, hands
There is the key of Laima (Goddess of happiness)
Let me, dear God, go up the hill, go up the hill
Not down the hill, down the hill
Let me, dear God, to give (to help, to provide) others, give others
Not to ask from others kindly, ask from others.
Song lyrics translation to English by Lasma Sile
To fully understand the folk song, a short explanation of Latvian Mithology would help:
There are long tables at dear God’s place (meaning - place for gathering of souls and workshop for God’s creations). Dear (or sweet) Māra (Goddess and ruler of all material world) sits there embroidering shawls (meaning - Māra makes material substances including human bodies. Ornamented shawls are important part of Latvian women traditional national costume, characterizing also world structure - sky, Earth/this world and afterworld). She embroidered, counted and gave the shawls in God’s hand (...to be filled with life and souls). Now, dear God, it’s your power, They are in your hand. Now you’ve got the key of Laima (Goddess of destiny and time) (Here you can see, how a new life is being created according to Latvian traditional religion - Māra gives the body, Laima decides the destiny and God gives the soul). Let me, dear God, go up the hill (asking God for successful life, for mental development) Not down the hill. Let me, dear God, to give (to help, to provide) others, Not to ask from others kindly.
/Explanation by Edgars Malkalns (found on the net)/
Video: Rinalds Rozenbergs, www.colortime.lv/
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