Ingrida Smuka Assistant Professor, PhD Latvian Academy of Sport Education

Celebration History Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Celebration is a traditional cultural event in Latvia. The Festival is part of Latvian national identity The Festival take place every 5 years in Riga Since the 1873 this festival has taken place 25 times The Song Festival is unique

Celebration History Festival have a 140 year-old history It is a most characteristic cultural tradition of the Baltic Festival are based a cappella singing tradition, a nowadays include a various types of artistic and forms of expression Festival is a unique Latvian folklore heritage 2008 the tradition of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration was included in the UNESCO

Celebration History Roots of festival found in the 19th century in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. First singing festival in 1857 in Tallinn and in 1861 in Riga. In first latvian choirs singing festival in Dikļi. (participated 6 choirs with 120 singers (man))

Celebration History The first Latvian National Song Festival wos the 1873 in Riga. Festival organizer: Latvian Society of Riga

The Latvian Song Festival flag

Flag Description: Made (sewed) in Leipzig The flag made: front of a white and red silk and velvet. On the velvet are arranged gold ornaments and tassels (pušķi). Middle of the flag is picture embroidered with silk threads: sacred grove, large old oak, under the large oak is an altar. On the altar burning flames and smoke waves go up. At the altar stands an old man and he held branch of oak in the right hand. At the top of the flag embroidered name: “Līgo” (sway) and the bottom of the flag date - 26th of June Size: height - 72 inch (1 inch (colla) 2,54cm) and 50 inch width.

Celebration History X-XIX Song Festival took place during the Soviet time Dance groups the first time participated in the festival in Since the 1960, every 5 years take place the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival

Celebration History During ocupation of Latvia exile Latvians began to arrange Latvian Song Festival in the major Latvian centers in abroad

Celebration History The first Latvian Song Day in Canada was held in September of 1952, in Toronto The first Song Festival in USA was held in May of 1953, in Chicago (Festival attended by 22 choirs with more than 650 participants and 5,000 listeners) In Hamburg European exile Latvian Song and Dance Festival began in 1964

Number of participants: 1873 year – 1003 participants 1880 – 1624 participants 1888 – 2618 participants – participants 2008 – participants ( participants from different countries)

Folklore groups in the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Celebration : Folklore and folk music groups widely represented wos in 21st Latvian Song and Dance Celebration in 1993

Celebration cycle: Since 1926th annual Celebration cycle is determined every 5 years except during World War II The next Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival – This festival will be in honor of the centennial anniversary of coutry.

The XXV Nationwide Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration 2013 Date: 30th June till to 7th July, Festive keyword was: “ Līgo” (sway) festival gathered a record number of participants choirs, 224 vocal groups. A record number of foreign participants - a total of 1,300 participants from different Latvian abroad communities and the 96 national minorities groups

Before the Festival Latvian Song and Dance Festival – performance and competition

Before the Festival

During the Festival concerts in different places of Riga city

During the Festival Concert on both sides of city ​​Canal

Last day of the Festival Festival procession usually takes place the last day of Song and Dance Festival the morning (all participants)

Procession of the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival participants

svetku-daliibnieku-gajiens-no-dailes- teatra.id16296/ The evening takes place the Gala Concert (closing ceremony)

Celebration in year 2013 Riga from June 30 till July 7

Congratulation of conductor of chour

XXV Nationwide Latvian Song Celebration 2013 “ Lūgšana”: k k

XXV Nationwide Latvian Song Celebration 2013 Saule, pērkons, Daugava phttp:// Saule, pērkons, Daugava phttp://

XV Dance Celebration

Flail (sprigulis) Skaloju, velēju baliņam kreklu 2x Klip klap klap 2x baliņam kreklu Lai manis bāliņis kā saule staigā 2x Klip klap klap 2x kā saule staigā 2x Velēja vālīte pa vēlētavu 2x Klip klap klap 2x pa vēlētavu 2x

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