Ķekatas, Budēļi, Kaladnieki- these are different names for one Latvian tradition - masking in wintertime!
Masking traditions in Latvia are ancient pagan rituals where people dress up in carved masks, furs, straw, and bells, crossing the boundary between the human and the spirit world.
During the dark winter months, these figures move from house to house, driving away evil, blessing fertility, and embodying ancestors, animals, and mythical forces.
Through songs, noise, dance, and playful chaos, ķekatas renewed the bond between people and the unseen world, carrying the promise of protection, abundance, and rebirth.
Let's call it the great-grandmother of contemporary Halloween
During the dark winter months, these figures move from house to house, driving away evil, blessing fertility, and embodying ancestors, animals, and mythical forces.
Through songs, noise, dance, and playful chaos, ķekatas renewed the bond between people and the unseen world, carrying the promise of protection, abundance, and rebirth.
Let's call it the great-grandmother of contemporary Halloween
This limited-edition RISO print is now available, signed and ready to ship
If it speaks to you, get in touch with me!
If it speaks to you, get in touch with me!
