Mushroom hunting is a serious business in Latvia.
And it is even more so, given that on November 25th the activity has been included among the national values contained in Latvia’s intangible cultural heritage. Picking tasty porcini mushrooms is not only a personal satisfaction: some traditions and techniques have their roots in the past and have their eyes projected into the future. The Latvijas Mikologu association requested the inclusion of mushroom picking and use in this special list. The proponents leveraged a nationwide tradition, focusing on the fact that mushroom picking requires an in-depth knowledge of nature and is then linked to a series of culinary skills for their preparation.
There are three other intangible values that, after the positive evaluation of the National Cultural Center – emanation of the Ministry of Culture – become part of Latvian cultural heritage.
The first two are cultural spaces: Barta and Piebalga. The inhabitants of the second town have been considered “important bearers of Latvian national identity”: in this territory characterized by lakes and green hills, there are churches, museums, manors, and archaeological sites that make part of Latvia the historical and cultural heart of the nation. In addition, well-known craft activities are developed, such as porcelain and beer producers. The Barta Cultural Space, on the other hand, is a “vital cultural-historical place in Latvia where ancient traditions are preserved, kept alive and revitalized,” says the Latvian National Cultural Centre.
The list also included the tradition of belt weaving, which is especially widespread in northern Latgale. The technique, which uses squares of wood, bone, metal, or cardboard with holes in the corners, was then used throughout Latvia.