WEAVING AND BELIEFS

Weaving is connected with the Lithuanian mindset in different ways. In Lithuania in the 19th and 20th centuries it was believed that certain actions predetermined the success of weaving. These actions could be linked with elements of magic. In Lithuania, according to Jonas Balys, there were hand-written or printed 'magic books', that included incantations that had distinct idolatrous formulas together with many Christian ones*. Antanas Mažiulis thinks that magic is not characteristic to Lithuanians, though there were many cases of witchcraft even until the middle of the 20th century.* It is interesting what beliefs, related to weaving customs, reach the contemporary world outlook of country people in Lithuania?

Mircea Eliade states that in trying to understand the man of archaic and traditional society, revealing the exemplary model of all rituals, all significant actions of man — eating, marriage, work, learning, art, wisdom — is important.* In Lithuania beliefs that accompanied weaving are linked with the course and rhythm of work. The best-known beliefs are: (1) forbidden actions, (2) harming fabrics, (3) protecting fabrics. It was believed that natural phenomena could have some indirect consequences; therefore, it was forbidden to work on certain days of the year or calendar holidays. The custom of throwing textiles is connected with wedding traditions. It was believed that certain signs predetermine luck. There existed certain beliefs connected with cross images. In the current rural culture of East Lithuania there exists the belief in 'the evil eye' that can spoil textiles, therefore, blessing them with incense them protects them. Very often weavers apply rational measures to avoid failure: they make rye or linseed porridge, brush the thread or sprinkle it with milk or alkaline solution.

It is important to understand that textiles were significant not only for the material, but also for the spiritual culture of agrarian society. In weaving customs of the 19th and 20th centuries old local beliefs like remnants of archetypal thinking are still present. Fabric still has links with the mindset of the people.