CHRISTMAS IN LATVIA

ADVENT Christmas time starts with Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Children together with their parents make an Advent wreath. It is usually made of conifer branches, moss, cones, dried flowers, orange slices, ribbons, beads and other things of their creative imagination. Four candles are put in the wreath and lighted up one by one on four Advent Sundays. Christmas time starts with Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Children together with their parents make an Advent wreath. It is usually made of conifer branches, moss, cones, dried flowers, orange slices, ribbons, beads and other things of their creative imagination. Four candles are put in the wreath and lighted up one by one on four Advent Sundays.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS Advent time is full of wonderful and soulful concerts in concert halls and churches around Latvia. Many of Latvia’s best known musicians, actors, actresses perform original Latvian Christmas songs and international melodies. Advent time is full of wonderful and soulful concerts in concert halls and churches around Latvia. Many of Latvia’s best known musicians, actors, actresses perform original Latvian Christmas songs and international melodies.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

CHRISTMAS MARKETS Christmas time is popular with Christmas markets around Latvia. Christmas time is popular with Christmas markets around Latvia. The Grand Christmas Market and the tree are on the Dome Square in the Old town in Riga. The Christmas Market is popular with locals as well as tourists visiting Riga. Every visitor has a chance to get familiar with variety of Latvian products and handicrafts: wooden toys, hand-made Christmas decorations, candles, basketry, woolen sweaters, socks, gloves, sheepskin, linen fabrics as well as painted silk, glassware and many others. The Grand Christmas Market and the tree are on the Dome Square in the Old town in Riga. The Christmas Market is popular with locals as well as tourists visiting Riga. Every visitor has a chance to get familiar with variety of Latvian products and handicrafts: wooden toys, hand-made Christmas decorations, candles, basketry, woolen sweaters, socks, gloves, sheepskin, linen fabrics as well as painted silk, glassware and many others.

PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS People start preparing for Christmas in time. Tidying up the living space is one of the tasks that Latvians are encouraged to do to make everything around a bit cleaner. It is also expected to have the home decorated with traditional decors, not with what you can usually buy in the shopping center. Thus a walk in the wood is very welcome to collect the natural items. Small branches and fir-cones are some of them. If nature is not really your place to be, it’s interesting to have ornaments or anything else you can make with your own hands. People start preparing for Christmas in time. Tidying up the living space is one of the tasks that Latvians are encouraged to do to make everything around a bit cleaner. It is also expected to have the home decorated with traditional decors, not with what you can usually buy in the shopping center. Thus a walk in the wood is very welcome to collect the natural items. Small branches and fir-cones are some of them. If nature is not really your place to be, it’s interesting to have ornaments or anything else you can make with your own hands.

ĶEKATAS – CHRISTMAS MASQUERADE Going on the Ķekatas winter solstice masquerade is most well-known and ancient folk tradition in Latvia. During Ķekatas people dress in masks and costumes and go home to home in a merry song and dance to ward off evil spirits and bring good will to the home they visit. The host and the hostess of the house give food and drink to the Ķekatas people. Going on the Ķekatas winter solstice masquerade is most well-known and ancient folk tradition in Latvia. During Ķekatas people dress in masks and costumes and go home to home in a merry song and dance to ward off evil spirits and bring good will to the home they visit. The host and the hostess of the house give food and drink to the Ķekatas people.

ĶEKATAS – CHRISTMAS MASQUERADE The most traditional masks – bears, horses, goats, wolfs, cranes, haystacks, tall women, small men, gypsies. The most popular is the mask of the bear. There is a special dance „Dance, the bear!”, because the bear with its roar is able to frighten away all evil spirits. The most traditional masks – bears, horses, goats, wolfs, cranes, haystacks, tall women, small men, gypsies. The most popular is the mask of the bear. There is a special dance „Dance, the bear!”, because the bear with its roar is able to frighten away all evil spirits. We have a popular musical kids game about a goat and a wolf. The goat means the light, but the wolf – the darkness. At the end of the game the wolf usually catches the goat. The meaning is that after the winter solstice the dark days become shorter, but the light – longer. We have a popular musical kids game about a goat and a wolf. The goat means the light, but the wolf – the darkness. At the end of the game the wolf usually catches the goat. The meaning is that after the winter solstice the dark days become shorter, but the light – longer.

DRAGGING THE YULE LOG Another characteristic and old Christmas tradition is dragging the Yule log. Usually it is the log of an oak tree. This is explained as the symbolic collecting and burning of last year's problems and misfortunes. The Yule log was either dragged by the people of one farmstead or several neighbors together. This was accompanied by songs, singing games, and various sounding instruments. If people from different farmsteads came together, then it was burned in the last farmstead. Another characteristic and old Christmas tradition is dragging the Yule log. Usually it is the log of an oak tree. This is explained as the symbolic collecting and burning of last year's problems and misfortunes. The Yule log was either dragged by the people of one farmstead or several neighbors together. This was accompanied by songs, singing games, and various sounding instruments. If people from different farmsteads came together, then it was burned in the last farmstead.

FORTUNETELLING Ancient Latvians dedicated lots of time to fortunetelling. Christmas Eve was not an exception. Someone wanted to know what the next year’s harvest will be like, and somebody, mostly the young, wanted to know the time of possible marriage. The Latvians also liked to bewitch luck – a proverb says that a lot of money will come to you if a black cat is carried around the church on Christmas Eve. Ancient Latvians dedicated lots of time to fortunetelling. Christmas Eve was not an exception. Someone wanted to know what the next year’s harvest will be like, and somebody, mostly the young, wanted to know the time of possible marriage. The Latvians also liked to bewitch luck – a proverb says that a lot of money will come to you if a black cat is carried around the church on Christmas Eve. One frequently used fortune- telling method involves ladling molten lead or wax into a pail of icy water and reading the twisted shapes as signs of future events. One frequently used fortune- telling method involves ladling molten lead or wax into a pail of icy water and reading the twisted shapes as signs of future events.

CHRISTMAS MEAL

Family dinner at Christmas Eve is a very important event during Christmas. Family dinner at Christmas Eve is a very important event during Christmas. The most popular Latvian Christmas dish is boiled grey peas with the souce of fried meat and onions. Usually eaten accompanied by a drink – curdled or cultured milk. All of the peas must be eaten by the morning to avoid tears in the new year. The most popular Latvian Christmas dish is boiled grey peas with the souce of fried meat and onions. Usually eaten accompanied by a drink – curdled or cultured milk. All of the peas must be eaten by the morning to avoid tears in the new year. A traditional dish is also boiled pigs head with boiled pearl barley. A traditional dish is also boiled pigs head with boiled pearl barley. Usually we make bacon rolls with fatty bacon and onion. Usually we make bacon rolls with fatty bacon and onion. Today one of the most popular Christmas meals is roast pork with stewed sauerkraut. Today one of the most popular Christmas meals is roast pork with stewed sauerkraut. A modern festive table also often includes carp, and fish scales are placed in pockets and purses, so that the new year brings a lot of money. According to Latvian tradition you should eat nine meals at Christmas for the coming year to be rich, although today this ritual is performed only rarely. A modern festive table also often includes carp, and fish scales are placed in pockets and purses, so that the new year brings a lot of money. According to Latvian tradition you should eat nine meals at Christmas for the coming year to be rich, although today this ritual is performed only rarely. In the last 100 years it has also become popular to bake gingerbread at Christmas. All kids like making them. In the last 100 years it has also become popular to bake gingerbread at Christmas. All kids like making them.

CHRISTMAS FATHER Christmas dinner is usually followed by coming of Father Christmas (Ziemassvētku vecītis) who brings to house or leaves a sack full of presents. But it is not so easy to get them. In order to get a present you have to recite a poem, sing a song, dance or even play a musical instrument while standing next to the Christmas tree. So, kids before Christmas are really learning by heart a lot of poems, songs etc. Christmas dinner is usually followed by coming of Father Christmas (Ziemassvētku vecītis) who brings to house or leaves a sack full of presents. But it is not so easy to get them. In order to get a present you have to recite a poem, sing a song, dance or even play a musical instrument while standing next to the Christmas tree. So, kids before Christmas are really learning by heart a lot of poems, songs etc.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ! PRIECĪGUS ZIEMASSVĒTKUS !