Ornamendi kaitseks
In Protection of the Ornament

Summary/Abstract: From the cultural semiotic point of view, folk art is the text of oral culture. We are no longer able to explain the symbols, visual figures, ornaments, signs and colours used since the knowledge needed to read these records is forgotten. In the parts of Estonia where more ancient traditions have been maintained - the Setu region and Kihnu Island - ornamentation, embroidering and weaving are still called writing. Folk art is inseparable from the world of beliefs and rituals, making it impossible to view an ornament as simple décor. It needs to be viewed as a complex structural set of popular beliefs concerning protection and warding magic, healing, numerical, colour and name magic. The ornament, signs and colours are important in interpersonal communication as well as in ritual communication with the deceased. Folk art is the oldest and most archaic of text corpora concerning our past, present and future.

• Details
• Contents