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Laumės – spirits of earth and sky

Laumės – beautiful longhaired girls in white or golden dresses. Under these dresses they sometimes hide bodies of chickens and legs of goats. They like to entertain themselves naked with bare heads.

Laumė can turn into a ladybird or pigeon and just swing on the nearest branch when you come by.

 

They like to sing and dance. They are great weavers and spinners. Laumės are very generous to the ones they like and can provide various gifts. On the other hand, if they dislike you or you insult them – don‘t expect anything good. Sometimes revenge of a Laumė can be deadly.

Monai Laumė | Mythical creature | Baltic Mythology

Laumės appear during young or full moon by the rivers and lakes, in the swamps and wetlands. They gather in groups and party, make fun, sing sutartinės (polyphonic traditional songs) and dance in circles. Their dances can summon rain and cause a storm.

It is Laumės that weave a rainbow in the sky after the rain. It is also therefore called „Laumės‘ ribbon“.

Laumės are very fond of human babies. They have been known to even kidnap new-borns and place some hay or their own babies instead.

Laumės can sneak into human homes at night, sit and weave the whole night and then disappear at dawn with all that they have created. If they would run short of yarn while at it, they could also weave all they found at hand in the house – also human hair and intestines – if they could make it before the dawn.

After the sauna women used to leave some soap and shingles for the Laumės, heat up some water.

In order to save you newborns form kidnaping or switching, one used to light a candle over the cradle at night.

To avoid losing your yarn and cloth, you should always clip it‘s end before going to sleep. To avoid all the milk being drained from your cows and all your sheep sheard, you should stick some rowan branches on your gates.