Belief Narratives in Lithuanian Mushroom Picking Practices

Abstract

This article focuses on certain belief narratives related to mushrooms and mushroom picking practices in Lithuania. It compares material from two time periods: the first from the end of the 19^th century to the first half of the 20^th century, which is commonly referred to as traditional culture in Lithuania; the second reflects materials gathered during 21^st century expeditions. Three groups of Lithuanian belief narratives related to mushroom picking practices are discussed in the article. The first group focuses on the principle of the ‘mushroom fortune’, which includes successful mushroom picking and the notion of the mushroom as the embodiment of success. The second group is related to ritual and the magical practices of mushroom picking. The third group reveals the perception of mushrooms as mythical beings. Comparison of the study material showed that belief narratives about mushroom picking practices were much more common in the older folklore research material. Nevertheless, some beliefs still exist in the 21^st century, albeit to a lesser extent. Moreover, new beliefs and mushroom picking practices that are not characteristic of traditional Lithuanian culture are also recorded in the 21^st century.