Straw mobiles - an old Latvian craft being revived

Take note – story published 8 years ago

This year the former head of the Culture Hall at Rēzekne, Ruta Laizāne, is trying to revive the art of making puzuri - octahedrons that for Latvians are a symbol of the universe, - reported Latvian Radio Tuesday.

Laizāne said that while mandalas have lately come into fashion, they are foreign while Latvians have the puzurs. Making the straw mobiles is a sort of meditation too, she said.

"[...] The idea is that the puzuris sucks up all the negative energy when spinning," said Laizāne.

Laizāne said that puzuri are hung above the table or in the corners of the room so that they bring holiness from their spinning. 

She also said that in the evening the shadows of these miniature copies of the universe leave Latvian signs on the walls or the ceiling. 

One puzuris - called a lantern by some - consists of 12 straws, just like there are 12 months in the year. "a puzurs starts with a single knot and ends with another, just like it is in life," said Laizāne.

In instigating her own little revival of using the puzuris as a Christmas decoration, Laizāne is selling these magic straw mobiles at the "Zaļais" store in Rēzekne.

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