Christmas in Latvia. Christmas in Latvia. Winter SolsticeWinter Solstice

Advent wreathAdvent wreath Road in winterRoad in winter

Many of the Christian traditions in Latvia are related with earlier pagan Many of the Christian traditions in Latvia are related with earlier pagan traditions.traditions.

Christmas treeChristmas tree

The first The first documented use of documented use of an evergreen tree in an evergreen tree in a Christmas a Christmas celebration was in celebration was in Riga, Latvia, in the Riga, Latvia, in the year 1510 according year 1510 according to many sources.to many sources.

DecorationsDecorations

During Christmas During Christmas rooms are decorated rooms are decorated with three-dimensional with three-dimensional straw or reed straw or reed ornaments - ornaments - lukturilukturi, , puzuripuzuri. .

Evergreen branches, Evergreen branches, junipers, wood junipers, wood shavings, apples and shavings, apples and other natural materials other natural materials are also used in the are also used in the decorations. decorations.

PuzuriPuzuri

Making of Making of ornamentsornaments

Christmas foodChristmas food Cooked grey peas with lard Cooked grey peas with lard (roasted bacon bits) (roasted bacon bits) Bacon piesBacon pies BeansBeans Boiled pig’s headBoiled pig’s head Sauerkraut with sausagesSauerkraut with sausages Smoked Baltic herringSmoked Baltic herring Barley sausageBarley sausage Gingerbread Gingerbread One of Latvia’s staple One of Latvia’s staple

values is rye bread values is rye bread especially tasty with honey especially tasty with honey

Grey peas Grey peas

There must be There must be at least nine at least nine different foods different foods set on the set on the Christmas tableChristmas table

TraditionsTraditions

Mummery Mummery

(masquerade)(masquerade)Mummers or Mummers or ķekatniekiķekatnieki

dressed up as storks, dressed up as storks, cranes, tall cranes, tall woman, Gypsies, woman, Gypsies, wolves, bears, wolves, bears, sheep, Death, etc., sheep, Death, etc., go from house to go from house to house, singing and house, singing and riddle-telling.riddle-telling.

Traditions Traditions Dragging the Yule log.Dragging the Yule log.

A big, heavy block of A big, heavy block of wood is dragged wood is dragged around the house and around the house and then burned as a then burned as a purification rite for the purification rite for the new year. new year.

This is explained as the This is explained as the symbolic collecting symbolic collecting and burning of last and burning of last year's problems and year's problems and misfortunes. misfortunes.

Bath goingBath going

BeliefsBeliefs

In Christmas you have to eat nine times, In Christmas you have to eat nine times, then in home will be rich.then in home will be rich.

Don’t lick your fingers, otherwise you often Don’t lick your fingers, otherwise you often will cat them.will cat them.

In Christmas all the peas must be eaten, so In Christmas all the peas must be eaten, so that there won’t be any tears the next year.that there won’t be any tears the next year.

If, on Christmas Eve, when the maiden If, on Christmas Eve, when the maiden goes into the barn, the cock crows first, goes into the barn, the cock crows first, then her husband will be handsome and then her husband will be handsome and smart, but if the ram bleats first, then he smart, but if the ram bleats first, then he will be stubborn and slow-witted.will be stubborn and slow-witted.

Luck casting Luck casting Luck casts from lead, tin or Luck casts from lead, tin or

candles. When you pour this candles. When you pour this smelted metal or parafin in the smelted metal or parafin in the cold water it turns in different cold water it turns in different figurations. People watch them, figurations. People watch them, try to explain and to foresee the try to explain and to foresee the luck.luck.

Folk SongsFolk Songs

Gausi nāca, nu atnācaGausi nāca, nu atnācaTie bagāti Ziemas svētki:Tie bagāti Ziemas svētki:Trīs dieniņas, trīs naksniņasTrīs dieniņas, trīs naksniņasNāk pār kalnu kūpēdami.Nāk pār kalnu kūpēdami.

Ziemassvētki sabraukušiZiemassvētki sabraukušiRakstītām kamanām.Rakstītām kamanām.Tekat, bērni, saņematTekat, bērni, saņematBasajām kājiņām.Basajām kājiņām.

Izcepu kukuliIzcepu kukuliČetriem stūriem:Četriem stūriem:Tas bija ķekatuTas bija ķekatuMielastiņš.Mielastiņš.

Priecīgus Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus!Ziemassvētkus!