A friend of mine and I talked about the notorious Latvian sense of humor the other day and how it doesn’t exist when it comes to laughing at yourself. Sure, you can can Web sites like A Million Reasons Why Latvia Is The Best Country In The World and say they’re an exhibit of the sense of humor in this country of ours. However, the site makes fun of life in Latvia and absurd political rhetoric rather than pokes fun of amusing traits in the national character.

There isn’t a single show on all four Latvian TV channels that makes fun of the Latvian way of life by the Latvians themselves. Why is that? Is the nation not mature enough to laugh at itself? Is there nothing to make fun of in Latvia? Is the misery of the Occupation Museum exhibitions not a good subject for jokes? Are Latvians too busy wallowing in self-pity that we forget to laugh at themselves once in a while?

Is it because we’re too busy laughing at ourselves (in ways not at all incompatible with our fabulous miserabilism)?

Good question—what happened to Dūle, et al.? I hardly ever watch TV, but acidic comedy seemed to be quite popular. The parts in which words were put into the mouths of our hundred wise heads, for example, were reportedly avidly watched by the hundred wise heads.

Maybe it just migrated to the Internet, where it’s interactive…

Vysu lobu,
/P

Aleksejs et al.,
“ friend of mine and I talked about the notorious Latvian sense of humor the other day and how it doesn’t exist when it comes to laughing at yourself” .

Perhaps latvians in character are related to the northern, serious types, or perhaps latvian is not a very filthy language unlike russian.

Visu labu,

My comments – which stemmed from a conversation with a non-Russian, by the way – have nothing to do with the question of filthiness of a language. Humor doesn’t have to be dirty.

Estonians, the serious northern type, appear to have more sense of humor about themselves than Latvians and Lithuanians.... Just an observation.

Is Piektdieni no longer on the television?  Pretty acerbic in my book...and certainly a good example of poking fun of yourselves (and close neighbors).

From apollo.lv
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Aleksejs et al.,

“My comments – which stemmed from a conversation with a non-Russian,......”

Not a russian and not a latvian, still an expert on latvian humor.  It sound very much like you had a one sided conversation.

Visu labu,

I can still vividly recall the dour, unsmiling faces of the ‘laudi’ in the Sov days.  There’s a big difference from then and now and even though that was some years ago, in terms of history, it was a relatively short time ago.  But the ‘Kaudzisi brali’(Mernieku Laiki) were ingeneous, IMO, in depicting “amusing traits in the national character”, their caricatures of some of the typical Latvian personalities and even though the setting was during the 1800’s some of those same attributes have carried over; the hypocritical, clown-like figure of ‘Kencis’( like some of Latvia’s infamous politicians, perhaps?) and ‘Svauksts’ with his ‘karklu vaciesu’ airs; Ah, yes, so many trimdies were well known for putting on airs, for having an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

Said rather affectionately, with humor, as so many are long gone.

Irena

“Estonians, the serious northern type, appear to have more sense of humor about themselves than Latvians and Lithuanians.... Just an observation.”

Estonians ? Of course they have a fine sense of humor. It’s all they have left. The rest doesnt thaw out except during those very rare abnormally warm summers.

Then the reindeer run scared…

Vidas

Irena et al.,

“But the ‘Kaudzisi brali’(Mernieku Laiki) were ingeneous”

Thera are also the “ maleniešu” jokes.

Visu labu,

Bruno, tell us about the “maleniesu” jokes.  I’d love to hear about it/them!

Irena

Hey!  Don’t get them started, Irena! 

Seriously, if you have “some people are so stupid...” type jokes internationally (Polish jokes come to mind), then each country has them internally as well.  Maleniesu jokes are along the lines of “hillbilly” jokes here in the US… though from what I’ve heard, a bit less, and nothing more.  Latvians are more restrained; the U.S. versions get… ickier.

Bruno the Lett - 30 May 2008 10:51 AM

Aleksejs et al.,

“My comments – which stemmed from a conversation with a non-Russian,......”

Not a russian and not a latvian, still an expert on latvian humor.  It sound very much like you had a one sided conversation.

Visu labu,

Shall I offer you the man’s CV? Or is anyone who is not a Latvian/Russian not allowed to comment on our great country? Let’s just say the person is married to a Latvian, does that count?

“Maleniesu jokes are along the lines of “hillbilly” jokes here in the US…”

You mean like this one?…

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/06/03/cheney.wv.joke.cnn

Pierre

Aleksejs et al.,

“Shall I offer you the man’s CV? Or is anyone who is not a Latvian/Russian not allowed to comment on our great country? Let’s just say the person is married to a Latvian, does that count? “.

Perhaps your friend married a humorless Latvian.
Visu labu,

some latvian joke sites:

http://www.tapiri.lv/articles/2549/1/

http://www.lanet.lv/users/judrups/Humor/aniki.html

http://krabjiem.lv/lv/joks/3242_dienas_joki/

http://e-lietas.lv/joki/