Suiti is a small catholic community (2500 inhabitants) in the Lutheran western part of Latvia and consists of 3 villages – Alsunga, Jrkalne, and Gudenieki. Because of their religious difference, the community is sometimes called a Catholic island. In this religious isolation, the Suiti possessed a distinct identity that was developed in the 17th century. Catholics make up the majority of the Suiti, living in an area mainly inhabited by Lutherans. Because of their different faith, the Suiti isolated themselves from the rest of the world for centuries, thus preserving their cultural traditions and heritage. Many distinct features define the Suiti cultural space, including some of the most impressive folk songs, dances, and melodies recorded in this community. These characteristics include drones performed by Suiti women, wedding traditions, colorful traditional costumes, Suiti language, local cuisine, religious traditions, and celebrations of the annual cycle.
Folk costumes for the Suiti region differ from other areas by their bright orange, red, and pink colors – particularly in the villaines (plaid woolen shawls), and their colorful floral headscarves worn by married women as a part of their folk costume. The traditional socks and mittens for women in this region are also brightly colored in patterns. An additional, unique part of the folk costume is the large brooch. This brooch is made of gold-plated silver or bronze-plated brass and is meant to secure a large shawl, with red glass set in the brooch. The metal belts and crowns are added and the result is a traditional folk costume with a colorful tradition that is an impressive and colorful legacy from past generations.
Additionally, the Suiti are known for their culinary heritage. They understand the uniqueness of this as it relates to the culinary standards that existed some centuries ago. Sklandrauši, a traditional tart made from rye flour with filling of local root vegetables like potatoes or carrots, is made using this local flour. Other traditional dishes include yeast soup with curds and barley, oat jelly, blood sausage, and milk soup with dumplings. All of these foods have been a part of the local diet for decades and are considered part of the region's culinary heritage.
Over the past decades, their unique traditions have been recorded and documented. They are now experiencing a renaissance, having been highlighted as a notable example of local intangible heritage. The synthesis of pre-Christian traditions and religious rituals has contributed to the Suiti community's unique blend of intangible heritage. In the wake of the Soviet period, the Catholic Church successfully recovered, resulting in Suiti artistic space experiencing a gradual renaissance. However, today only a few people, mostly old people, are thoroughly knowledgeable about Suiti cultural heritage, and there is an urgent need for this knowledge to be spread and for more people to be involved in the preservation of it. This can be accomplished through the recovery of elements found in written documents, film archives, and museum archives.
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