DainasDainas

Description

The “Dainas” are the Latvian folk songs, which are mostly written in four-line prose. The folk songs consist of many stanzas and tell of nature, work, daily life and festivities. The Dainas have been in existence for over a thousand years and were transmitted orally until the 19th century. There are more than 1.2 million dainas.

Here are a few examples:

Dziedot dzimu, dziedot augu,

Aijā, dziedot augu,

Dziedot mūžu nodzīvoj`.

I was born singing, I grew up singing,

Aija, I grew up singing,

I spent my life singing

Sijā auzas, tautu meita,

Dod manami kumeļam.

Nesijāšu, ne es došu,

Netīk manam prātiņam.

Tam sijāšu, tam es došu,

Kas tīk manam prātiņam.

Kas tecēja manis dēļi

Lielu ceļa gabaliņ ’.

Sieve of oats, girl,

Give to my foal.

I will not sieve or give

Because I don’t like you.

For the one

who will go a long way for me,

him I will like for his foal i will sieve and give

Intention

Dainas are more than just historical cultural assets. It is the Latvians’ lived identity – parents sing lullabies on their baby’s bed. In kindergarten the Latvian folk songs and folk dances are the introduction to musical education. When learning the musical instruments, you usually play the folk songs first. Every Latvian usually knows at least the first three stanzas of the best-known folk songs, so that you can sing a lot together. It is therefore a great cultural treasure for me that should be lived on and not forgotten.