Veseluma un veselīga dzīvesveida vērtības folklorā un tradīcijā
The Values of Wholeness and Healthy Lifestyle in Folklore and Traditions

Summary/Abstract: Wholeness means uniformity and completeness, as well as health in a broader sense. Wholeness is understood as totality that consists of physical and mental health, as well as attitude towards life and emotional balance. In Latvian folklore and tradition, health has been highlighted as a special value, which could be inherited, given by God and self-maintained, following the advice provided by the tradition. The author examines the key values portrayed in Latvian folklore, which have been related to the wholeness, healthy lifestyle and health maintenance or preventive measures. Tradition stipulates that a “healthy” person is a person, who is complete and harmonious in body and mind. Joyful and positive mood was considered a crucial precondition of health, which allowed to find a solution in difficult situations and to solve health-related problems giving strength in life and work. To maintain health, food was important, but at the same time moderation in terms of diet and other choices of life has been emphasised in folklore. The foundation of good health was seen in connection with nature and the rhythms of nature. Special role was given to forests, sacred birch groves and trees. In folk tradition, it was self-explanatory that natural means should be used for recovering and maintaining health. Nature was seen as a source of good health. An important precondition in maintaining good health was tidiness – the tidiness of body and environment, as well as thoughts and attitude. In Latvian tradition, the key place for curing diseases and maintaining health was a bathhouse, where the healing power of water, fire and earth was emphasised.

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