1. EU Lifelong Learning Programme for International School Partnerships
Comenius, Project "Media as Challenge and Possibility" Description of Latvian
fairy tales’ characters
Konya, 2014

2. General information about Latvian
folktales
Latvian folklore is rich in different characters.
There are good and hardworking characters as Sprīdītis and
Lāčplēsis, the 3rd father’s son, Godess such as Mother of Happiness,
Mother of Wind.
And we also have evil charters - Devil, Dragon, Stepmother.

3. The 3rd father’s son
In Latvian fairy tales the father usually has 3 sons- 2 of them are clever,
but the 3rd is stupid.
At the end of the fairy tale it comes out that the 3rd is the cleverest.
In Latvia in this connection is also Public Library Project
«The 3rd father’s son’».

4. Lāčplēsis
This character as if brings features of a man and bear,it has force and power.
Lāčplēsis guards his native hause, his hometown from evil forces.
Lāčplēsis is also a national simbol of Latvia. It characterises power and strength.

5. Animals in fairy tales
Latvian fairy tales are rich in animals as main characters.They have imbodied
features of humans.
For example, fox is cunning,hare is afraid,
Wolf is credulous, bear strong
and powerful.

6. Dragon
In fairy tales usually the dragon guards
some treasury or magic key. In order
to get it the main hero struggles with
the dragon and cuts its heads. The dragon
usually has 3 or 9 heads.

7. Stepmother
In fairy tales very often the king marries the
2nd time and his new wife becomes the
stepmother of his daughter. The step-mother
usually is mean and evil to the
Stepdaughter.

8. Step daughter
She usually is the positive heroine in the fairy tales. Stepdaughter is kind
hearted and positive hero. She does the most difficult and dirtiest works. The
Stepmother with her daughters usually humiliate stepdaughter. But at the end
just the Stepdaughter marries the prince.

9. Magic bird
This bird is usually met in fairy tales where are a lot of magic events. It lives far
away from real towns and villages. In order to get the bird they have to
overcome many difficulties. Heroes should show their bravery and cleverness.