Latvian culture Outline Historicogeographical overview Folklore Traditional costumes

Latvian culture

Outline ● ● ● Historico-geographical overview Folklore Traditional costumes The celebration of Summer solstice The Song and Dance Festival Conclusions

overview ● Baltic tribes ~ 9000 B. C. ● Declaration of Independence 18 November 1918 ● Reestablishment of Independence 1991 ○ EU (2004) ○ NATO (2004)

Folklore ● Traditional folksongs - Dainas o Over 2 million folk songs o The Cabinet of Folk Songs (UNESCO) ● Pagan traditions, polytheism Gulbis peld pa ūdeni, Es pa ļaužu valodāmi. Ceļas gulbis no ūdeņa, Es no ļaužu valodāmi. Ne ūdenis gulbim lipa, Ne man ļaužu valodiņas. The swan swims through the water, I - through people’s gossip. Rises the swan from the water, I - from people’s gossip. Neither water sticks to the swan, Nor to me - people’s gossip.

Traditional costumes ● ● Development (beginning of the nation - 19 th century) Hundreds of different national costumes Variation according to the region Representation of ethnic features, social and marital status, age, wealth

Summer solstice ● In Latvian, Līgo and Jāņi ● The shortest night of the year (23 rd - 24 th June) ● Main activities

Festival ● ● Since 1973 Takes place every 5 years 40 600 participants (2013) Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (UNESCO)

Conclusions ● Latvia is a small, but culturally rich country where certain pagan traditions can still be observed. ● The Song and Dance Festival is the most popular celebration that brings together thousands of people from different occupations, parts of the country, etc. ● Traditional folk songs dainas can be considered the most defining aspect of the Latvian folklore.

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