Day 8, Latvia's day

On Friday participants lived with Latvian folk songs, dances and other traditions.

After morning wake up in the army style mixed with lovely „Rise and shine” from beautiful Latvian girls participants had English breakfast made by James from the Netherlands but originally from UK. 

Presentation

Later Lāsma and Kristīne presented Latvia, told foreigners about our traditions, Midsummer Festival Līgo, our tradition foods and costumes. Participants found out a lot of new things about Latvia, Latvians and how to tell if you have stayed in Latvia too long.

Clay workshop

Then we went to Svilpaunieku Bazārs, where participants saw how traditional potter is working in Latvia and made their own whistles from clay and decorated a pot and then painted them. Everyone really enjoyed it, thanks for that to hospitable Svilpaunieku Bazārs hostess.

Our pot from clay

Made clay souvenirs, we started to relive Līgo traditions. First of them was rain that surprised us before dinner, unplanned as always. Fortunately, it was for short time so after refreshing rain shower we could go by riverside of Daugava and introduce foreigners with Latvian culture and traditional activities in Līgo festivity.

Participants composed traditional Līgo folk songs in the way it had componed hundred years ago, they learned to dance Latvian dances such as “Tūdaliņ, tagadiņ”, “Plaukstiņpolka” and others. There was also future prediction mini – workshop with Latvian beliefs about future love life, a game called “Kartupelis” or “Potato” and charades called “Mēmais šovs” where teams had to show different words which describes Līgo festivity.

After mini – workshops we had delicious picnic near the bonfire with traditional Latvian food – Līgo cheese and patties with pork. During the picnic Latvians sang Latvian songs and foreigners presented their composed Līgo songs.

Sauna

When it got dark we went to guest house to relive Latvian traditional sauna. Bathhouse attendant Sergejs showed the sauna ritual to interested ones.

After the Latvian day participants felt relaxed and fresh and ready for next day!