Thank you Mayor Nils Ušakovs - it was a wonderful party and a brilliant political move on your part - give something nice back to the people of Riga and our visitors from abroad ! The Riga Rooster complements you...
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Showing posts with label St Johns Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St Johns Day. Show all posts
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Mid Summer Jani Holiday Celebration Riga Latvia River Embankment - 2010
Thank you Mayor Nils Ušakovs - it was a wonderful party and a brilliant political move on your part - give something nice back to the people of Riga and our visitors from abroad ! The Riga Rooster complements you...
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Mid Summer Holiday - Jani Day - LIGO 23 and 24 June
The Mid Summer Holiday called Jani Day or LIGO is Latvia's biggest holiday of the year and from about 3 PM on 23rd things start closing and will not reopen to about 2 PM on 24th
Many things will stay closed all day on 24th as well.
This is mainly a family and friend type holiday with everyone retreating to the countryside to swim in the lake, BBQ and dance around the bonfire until the first light of the new day on 24th June.
In Riga, there will be open air markets in Old Riga Dome Square on the several days before the 23rd andthen LIGO night-time activities at the LIDO Center on Krasta Boulevard.
Many things will stay closed all day on 24th as well.
This is mainly a family and friend type holiday with everyone retreating to the countryside to swim in the lake, BBQ and dance around the bonfire until the first light of the new day on 24th June.
In Riga, there will be open air markets in Old Riga Dome Square on the several days before the 23rd andthen LIGO night-time activities at the LIDO Center on Krasta Boulevard.
more details on this very special holiday from the 2008 announcement
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Purchase original oil paintings by Latvian artists on linen fabric and other useful Linen gifts at our studios in Riga Center.
More information http://www.linen.lv/
View paintings on our online gallery
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Visitors to Latvia - What to do on LIGO Holiday ?
LIGO Day or Jani day (Jani is a man name - John). The actual celebration is the night of 23 June.
LIGO or Jani Day is the annual Latvian celebration of the Summer Solstice which marks the longest day of the year and is celebrated on Midsummer's Eve.
It is an ancient practice which dates back to pre-Christian times and has many rituals that are closely associated with nature and the hope for a good harvest in the autumn.
It is a time to be with friends, family and loved ones and is usually celebrated with a big meal during the day before heading out to one of the many public parties which involve traditional dances and more eating, drinking and singing.
Bonfires are also lit which is a ritual that links back to the old tradition of cleansing and warding off evil spirits.
Planning, shopping actually starts about a week in advance and involves deciding where to go, who to go with and what to take along. Traditional Jani day foods include a special cheese made with Caraway seeds - it appears only at this time of year.
Around mid day on the 23rd normal activity stops and everyone rushes to their chosen location. First for a dip in the lake and then to start a bonfire, eventually east their choices, sing along and duck for cover as it ALWAYS rains on the night. Lots of beer until the wee hours of the morning and than finely drop where you are for a few hours sleep. Life on the 24th gets started only about 1 Pm or maybe even later and its slow moving all day long.
Its not really a day for the family, its more a day to be with friends which of course includes family.
One legend in Latvia is around the in Latvia is the mythical blooming fern, which, opens its magic golden flower only on Midsummer Eve. Midsummer Eve is a magic night when one may meet Mother Laima (Fortune) herself and Dieviņš walking, see money drying, and if very lucky - find the blooming fern flower.
What to do - How to join in?
In Riga, join daytime celebrations in Old Town - Dome's square and in the evening at the LIDO Recreation Center on Krasta Avenue. In Jurmala a beach party at the Baltic Beach Hotel. Other cities will have a public event, contact the tourist office in each city or ask your hotel front desk.
News from LETA http://www.leta.lv/Midsummer Fair under way on Dome Square
RIGA, June 20 (LETA) - Today, the traditional Midsummer Fair is under way on Old Town Riga's Dome Square featuring song and dance performances by folklore groups, choirs and dance groups, LETA was informed by Riga City Council Culture Department's press secretary Annija Senakola.
Senakola informed that more than 300 merchants will participate in the fair and will sell flowers, herbal teas, birch besoms, oak leaf and flowers crowns, caraway cheese, fish, honey, traditional bread and delicacies. Craftsmen will offer ceramic and linen articles, wooden spoons, jewelry and other goods.
Apart from the annual fair on the square, an event celebrating the coming of summer solstice will be organized also in the courtyard of Riga Castle, where concerts, cheese-making, Medieval style food preparation and tasting, as well as trading will take place.
Starting from today, through June 21, the traditional event “Solstice Fires on Riga’s Hills” will continue the summer solstice tradition, started in previous years to illuminate a number of hills in Riga – Tornakalns, Agenskalns, Grizinkalns and Ciekurkalns. Events celebrating the coming of Midsummer holiday will be organized also in Bastejkalns and Dzeguzkalns.
The events, celebrating the coming of Midsummer holiday in Riga are organized by Riga City Council Culture Department.
Senakola informed that more than 300 merchants will participate in the fair and will sell flowers, herbal teas, birch besoms, oak leaf and flowers crowns, caraway cheese, fish, honey, traditional bread and delicacies. Craftsmen will offer ceramic and linen articles, wooden spoons, jewelry and other goods.
Apart from the annual fair on the square, an event celebrating the coming of summer solstice will be organized also in the courtyard of Riga Castle, where concerts, cheese-making, Medieval style food preparation and tasting, as well as trading will take place.
Starting from today, through June 21, the traditional event “Solstice Fires on Riga’s Hills” will continue the summer solstice tradition, started in previous years to illuminate a number of hills in Riga – Tornakalns, Agenskalns, Grizinkalns and Ciekurkalns. Events celebrating the coming of Midsummer holiday will be organized also in Bastejkalns and Dzeguzkalns.
The events, celebrating the coming of Midsummer holiday in Riga are organized by Riga City Council Culture Department.
For the brave at heart, try the traditional jump over the bonfire
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