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Paper short abstract

This paper explores death, the afterlife, and encounters with souls in Baltic folktales. It examines where the dead dwell, how they appear to the living, and what these narratives reveal about cultural beliefs surrounding mortality and the spiritual world.

Paper long abstract

This paper examines representations of death, the afterlife, and encounters with the dead in Baltic folktales, highlighting the cultural meanings attached to mortality and the fate of the soul. Folktales, from the Latvian and Lithuanian traditions frequently explore what happens beyond death, offering insights into beliefs that blend mythological, religious, and folk elements. At the core of these narratives is the question of the soul’s journey: where it travels, how it is received, and whether it remains connected to the world of the living. The tales often portray souls as inhabiting specific realms, ranging from distant mythical landscapes to locations close to home, such as graveyards, crossroads, or even domestic spaces. These entities may manifest to the living in dreams, visions, or unexpected encounters, acting as intermediaries, assistants, or cautionary symbols. At times, the dead assume forms of restless spirits or revenants, underscoring unresolved tensions between the living and the departed. These motifs reveal not only attitudes toward death but also communal attempts to maintain bonds with ancestors and to safeguard the boundaries between worlds. By analysing these stories, the paper seeks to illuminate how Baltic folktales reflect and shape conceptions of mortality, continuity, and spiritual presence. This underscores the role of folktales as both narrative entertainment and cultural repositories, encompassing themes of life, death, and the enduring mysteries of the unknown.