The Latvian Flag, Hidden in a Maiden’s Headdress
Home > Taken Out of Latvia > The Latvian Flag, Hidden in a Maiden’s Headdress The Latvian Flag, Hidden in a Maiden’s Headdress Krustpils folk costume. Made by Marija Vanags (1911–1950) in the 1930s in Latvia. This folk costume was created as Marija Zapāns’ graduation project at the women’s vocational school of the Latgale Roman Catholic cultural promotion society “Saule” in Daugavpils. The threads from which the skirt was woven were spun and dyed by Marija’s mother using plant dyes. It is said that when Latvia was first occupied during WWII, Marija sewed the colours of the Latvian flag into the maiden’s headdress as a way of protesting against what was happening. When she fled Latvia in 1944, Marija took the folk costume with her. After several years in refugee camps in Germany, Marija and her family emigrated to Australia, where she died relatively young. The folk costume with the family legend of the Latvian colours sewn into the headdress was inherited by Marija’s brother, Jānis Vanags. Donated by Jānis Vanags; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2014.2). Marija Zapāns (right) with her sister Jadviga Vanaga in Krustpils folk costumes in the 1930s. Donated by Jānis Vanags. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre. The Latvian Flag, Hidden in a Maiden’s Headdress Playing Previous Song Play Pause Next Song /
A Costume For Visiting The President
Home > Taken Out of Latvia > A Costume For Visiting The President A Costume For Visiting The President A Bārta folk costume. Made in Latvia in the 1930s. This almost ethnographically accurate folk costume from the Bārta region was made as a gift. It was given to Milda Aparnieks (1902–1985) by her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Artūrs Aparnieks, who had both the folk costume and the silver brooches custom made by master artisans. This folk costume was worn for the first time when Milda went to a reception at Riga Castle with President Kārlis Ulmanis. Milda carefully kept the folk costume throughout her life, taking it with her when she fled Latvia, and later, to Brazil. In 1966 the folk costume and its owner moved to San Francisco, USA. Donated by Aija Švāns, Ināra Aparnieks Burr, Māra Escajeda; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2015.122) Milda Aparnieks wearing her Bārta folk costume in the 1930s, in Latvia. Donated by Ināra Aparnieks Burr. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.
A Folk Costume for a Long Jumper
Home > Taken Out of Latvia > A Folk Costume for a Long Jumper A Folk Costume for a Long Jumper Nīca folk costume. Made in Latvia in the 1930s. This folk costume belonged to Zinaīda Zāgars (née Liepiņa, 1907–2000), an outstanding athlete during Latvia’s first independence. As a long jumper, she repeatedly won Latvian championship titles and broke Latvian records in several athletic disciplines. In 1944 Zinaīda became a refugee and eventually emigrated to her new home in the USA. Zinaīda wore the folk costume she had taken with her when participating in various Latvian events, including song festivals. Her daughter Ileana inherited the folk costume. The folk costume briefly visited Latvia again in 1998, when Ileana took part in the Latvian Song and Dance Festival with the Los Angeles Latvian Choir. Donated by Ileana Zāgars-Jones; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2016.1). Zinaīda Zāgars and her daughter Ileana in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, USA; 1950. Donated by Ileana Zāgars-Jones. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.
Handmade by a Kaucminde Student
Home > Taken Out of Latvia > Handmade by a Kaucminde Student Handmade by a Kaucminde Student Rucava folk costume. Made by Vera Anna Uskalis (1921–2013) ca 1943 in Latvia. This folk costume was made at the Kaucminde Home Economics Seminary, where Vera Anna Uskalis learned domestic and agricultural skills. Vera took the folk costume with her when she fled as a refugee during WWII. The folk costume and its owner first landed in a refugee camp in Greven, Germany, then eventually settled in Leeds, UK. The folk costume was later given to Vera’s niece, Zinta Uskale, who took it with her when she moved for a while to the Latvian centre “Abrene” in France. In 2015 the folk costume was brought back to Latvia. Donated by Ilona Uskalis; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2022.434). Zinta Uskalis (on the right) wearing the Rucava folk costume made by Vera Uskalis in Northern England in the 1980s. Donated by Ilona Uskalis. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.
A Sister’s Folk Costume
Home > Taken Out of Latvia > A Sister’s Folk Costume A Sister’s Folk Costume Zemgale folk costume. Made by Aina Ramane (née Besere, 1922–2012) in the 1930s in Latvia. Aina Ramane made the Zemgale folk costume, maiden’s headdress, and sash while studying at the Zaļenieki School of Home Economics. The pendant brooch was made of silver by a craftsman in Jelgava in 1938. Aina took the costume with her as a refugee during WWII; from Germany Aina moved to the USA. There she commissioned the jeweller Antons Kivelnieks from Toronto, Canada, to make a circle brooch and silver buttons for the folk costume’s vest. The shawl for the costume was woven by master weaver Ausma Siliņa in Syracuse, USA, but without the traditional tablet-woven border because Siliņa could no longer undertake such a complex job at her age. The shirt has been mended several times as it has worn out over the years. Aina eventually gave the folk costume to her sister, Vita Ramane, who wore it when performing with the New York Latvian Lutheran Church choir and in the New York kokle and song ensemble led by Andrejs Jansons. This Zemgale folk costume has seen many performances on stages all over the world. Donated by Vita Ramane; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2017.1435). Aina Ramane in her own handmade Zemgale folk costume (3rd from left in row 3) with school friends in the park near the Zaļenieki School of Home Economics on 15 May 1938. Donated by Vita Ramane. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.