How do Latvians celebrate Christmas?

How do Latvians celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is an important family celebration for Latvians. Many Latvians attend-Midnight Mass church services,decorate Christmas trees and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve – December 24. Christmas Eve is the most important moment! Celebrations continue on Christmas Day and the day after.

What are some traditional decorations for Christmas?

Other traditional decorations include bells, reindeer, candles, candy canes, garland, stockings, wreaths, snow globes, and angels.

What is the most used Christmas decoration?

Most Popular Christmas Decorations

• Candles.
• Garlands.
• Roping.
• Swags.
• Ribbons.
• Poinsettias.
• Christmas tree ornaments.
• Wreaths.

What is Santa called in Latvia?

Ziemassvētku vecītis
Children in Latvia believe that Santa Claus (also known as Ziemassvētku vecītis – Christmas old man) brings their presents. The present are usually put under the Christmas tree. The presents are opened on during the Evening of Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day.

What are some traditions in Latvia?

A significant part of the modern Latvian lifestyle includes such unique traditions as the summer solstice holiday Jāņi or “Liigo!”, the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, a treasure trove of folk songs (dainas), mythology, traditional dress, and folk dancing.

What is the Christmas color for 2021?

For a new take on a classic Christmas table, James suggests opting for snow white shades with frosted silver and clear glass. “This colour combination creates a beautifully elegant look that will be popular on this year’s table,” he says.

What is a Christmas mistletoe?

Mistletoe is a plant that grows on range of trees including willow, apple and oak trees. The tradition of hanging it in the house supposedly goes back to the times of the ancient Druids; however, there’s little evidence that this happened.

When should xmas decorations go up?

Many traditionalists would tell you that the Christmas tree and other decorations should only go up on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is the first day of Advent. This year, it falls on Sunday 1 December, which works out well for those who see the start of the month as the right time to put up a tree.

What food do Latvians eat?

Rye or wheat, oats, peas, beets, cabbage, pork products, and potatoes are the staples. Latvian cuisine offers plenty of varieties of bread and milk products, which are an important part of the cuisine.

Is Santa a name or a title?

Santa Claus also has some other names: Saint Nicholas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Pelznickel. Two of his names — Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas — both come from the Dutch who settled in New York long ago. The Dutch believed Saint Nikolaas gave gifts to children.

How do Latvians celebrate name day?

Yes, the unwritten rule of a Name Day celebration in Latvia is that people are free to come over without an invitation (that rule wouldn’t work for birthdays—showing up without an invitation is considered rude). The anticipation and surprises follow you throughout the day, and it makes you feel oh, so special!

What do Latvians celebrate today?

The celebration of the summer solstice is Latvia’s oldest and most beloved holiday. While some like to begin this holiday on June 21st, (the longest day of the year), the Latvian Līgo-Day takes place on June 23rd and continues with Jāņi on the following day – June 24th.

What do people in Latvia do for Christmas?

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. Log dragging is one of the most anticipated ancient Latvian Christmas traditions. An oak log is cut and then dragged through the yards to draw all the bad experiences of the year in.

Where was the first Christmas tree in Latvia?

Latvia is closely associated with the Christmas tree, and some legends say it was in Riga that the first Christmas tree was decorated in front of the House of Blackheads on Town Hall Square in 1510. Whether or not this is true makes no difference, because the tradition of decorating Christmas trees is alive and well in Latvia.

What is the Latvian tradition of dragging a log?

Log dragging is one of the most anticipated ancient Latvian Christmas traditions. An oak log is cut and then dragged through the yards to draw all the bad experiences of the year in. Later, the log is burnt, to symbolize the light’s win over the darkness.

What kind of decorations do people put on Christmas trees?

A decorated tree is usually one of the first decorative signs that the Christmas holiday season has arrived. These evergreen trees may be natural or artificial and are decorated with all types of baubles, lights, tinsel, garland, and ornaments to suit each family or organization’s particular taste.