Latvian Mythological Cards ~ Latju Mītoloģiskās Kārtis

Baltic deities and symbols – Latvian culture is replete with geometrical signs representing gods, elements, and nature – thrive in this deck. The cards are arranged by the seasons: spades are fall, hearts are summer, clubs are winter, and diamonds are spring. Aces bear deities representing with the seasons together with appropriate symbols. These symbols are also found on the pip cards.

For example, the Ace of Spades features the Archangel Michael (Miķelis), who is celebrated on the autumn equinox, together with the symbol for Jumis, god of fertility and the harvest, represented by two crossed stalks of grain. That symbol is also present on each spade pip card. The kings and queens are Latvian mythology figures matching the themes of each season. For example, the King of Spades is Potrimps, another harvest deity, while the Queen of Spades is Laima, the goddess of blessing and happiness. Winter, on the other hand, is represented by Pīkols, the god of death, and Kārta, the goddess of survival. The jacks represent men doing seasonal tasks such as scything and threshing.

Latvian Mythological Cards (Latju Mītoloģiskās Kārtis) created by Vilnis Rasa for Jānis Mētra in either 1992 or 2013.

There are three evocative jokers. One is Staburadze, a Niobe-like figure who wept for the loss of her lover and turned into a cliff. The second is sumpurnis, a werewolf. The third is a sexualized figure of a spīgana, a witch figure in Baltic folklore. The backs feature geometric patterns.

Everything is explained on an accompanying extra card which is curiously handmade with what appears to be paper glued to either business cards or playing cards.

According to the World Web Playing Card Museum, this deck was created by Vilnis Rasa for Jānis Mētra in either 1992 or 2013 : Latvju Mitologiskas►