Christmas in Latvia
Christmas in Latvia, even during the era of COVID, was a very enjoyable experience. Most of the typical characteristics of a Christmas in the US were present, just emphasized or deemphasized in various ways.
The Christmas holiday is celebrated over three days, Christmas Eve “Ziemassvētku vakars”, Christmas Day “Ziemassvētki”, and the day after Christmas Day “Otrie Ziemassvētki”, literally second Christmas, with Christmas Eve being the main event at this particular household. Much of the holiday was spent in conversation with family members, playing board games, walks in the snow, enjoying lighting and decoration displays, listening to carols and traditional music, celebratory toasting, and eating copious amounts of food.
Randy:
My first observation was a more modest and less commercialized holiday. The shopping season seems to kick off with a very recent import from the US, “Black Friday.” Black Friday is often advertised in the original English, or less commonly, translated to Latvian as Melnās Piekdienas, and despite the lack of a Thanksgiving holiday, seems to fall on the same Friday as it does in the US. Also, like in the US, Black Friday is really a one to two week-long sales event. Maybe due to the fact that this event is only 4 or 5 years old, or maybe because of COVID, Black Friday felt much smaller and less pervasive.
Christmas presents were opened late in the evening of Christmas Eve. There was a noticeably modest amount of gifts under the tree – more than shown in this photo before they were opened 😉 – but the event was not short or lacking ceremony. Throughout the day, the children, and less seriously, the adults, researched poems about Christmas and winter. This seems to be an extension of a tradition of memorizing verse as a part of Latvian education. One by one, a name was called from a gift tag, and its recipient was required to stand next to the Christmas tree and recite a verse or poem before receiving their gift. The children had largely memorized their verses, but the adults usually read them from cell phones. Then, a candle on the Christmas tree was lit and the next gift recipient was called.
Christina:
Christmas traditions are different here. I actually quite like the traditions here. In my family we always celebrated and opened presents on Christmas Eve. Here it is the same, but they have a tradition of reading a poem, singing a song, or doing a dance before receiving presents. They perform this act to prove that they are worthy of the gifts being given. It’s a really sweet tradition. We participated but unfortunately didn’t realize you are supposed to memorize the poem so we both used notes to help.
As was also normal in my family in the US, we spent most of the time in the kitchen eating, sometimes helping, and talking with grandma. They were making speķa pīrāgi. I used to help my grandmother make them every Christmas and was able to help this year. All of the kitchen traditions really bring me back to my childhood and time spent with my grandmother. Watching my aunt with her granddaughter was so sweet and reminded me of me and my grandmother. At one point my aunt gently swept the hair from her granddaughter’s face and kissed her forehead. It reminded me of my childhood and the many weekends spent in the kitchen with my grandmother.
Randy:
I felt like I was constantly eating. Some of the highlights for me were the homemade bacon rolls “speķa pīrāgi,” a type of cold pork aspic “aukstā gaļa”, literally “cold meat,” minced meat patties “kotletes,” stewed sauerkraut and sausages made from home-fermented cabbage, and a creamy chicken and mushroom stew served with buckwheat groats. There was also large assortment of homemade jams, jellies, and pickles, including black currant jam, pepper jelly, and pickled pumpkin.
Less of a hit with me, but interesting nonetheless, was the pork tongue and the pork liver pate. For dessert was a light gelatin cream in cranberry syrup, a quick curd “biezpiena” on leftover piragi dough topped with cinnamon apples, and an assortment of cookies, including an interesting variety called “riekstiņi” that looked like a walnut made with two cookie halves adhered together with a boiled/carmelized evaporated milk, similar to dulce de leche. Most of the toasting was done with some sort of homemade spiced liqueur chased with a drink made of black currant syrup.
We packed the cats up in their carriers and took them with us for our Christmas holiday. They meowed for a good hour in the car before deciding that complaining would get them nowhere… literally.
Our cats do not like new places or people. They are truly “fraidy cats”. They spent most of their days here hidden under blankets. Family members would sneak in at different times of the day and visit them. At night, when it was quiet, the cats finally got brave enough to explore a little bit. When everyone else was quietly settled in, the girls would go out exploring the living room, kitchen and bathroom. I think if we had been there a little longer, they may have come out more. Maybe we’ll take them back for Easter. Stay tuned.
We hope you all had a very merry Ziemassvētki!
Čau, for now!
Loved the descriptions and especially the cats…lol.
Like to hear about different traditions and the cats…funny!
(Too bad black Fri adopted)
Glad you liked it! I’m sure there will be more about traditions and cats.
Awesome!
So fun to read!
Although my head almost exploded at the real candles! And I was filled with anxiety about having to recite a poem, sing or dance! Haha but it sounds much nicer than a bunch of selfish kids opening 100 things they don’t need or want!
Are there many vegetarians there? Sad about black Friday!
I’m inspired to write more! It’s been a long time since I’ve updated my blog thinger! 🙂
Thanks SV! Not sure how many vegetarians, but I know it’s a thing, as are GF diets. I always enjoy your posts, you should write more!
Thanks for sharing observations on life in Latvia and pics! Love the pics of the cats. Christmas time seems magical there. Keep posting, fun to read!
Thanks for following along Ari!
Hi Randy & Christina, Was excited to be given your blog info so I can travel around with you! Enjoy your time in Latvia…Happy trails!
Thanks Marla!
Hi Christina and Randy – I finally was able to get on to your blog! I enjoyed the pics and all the memories from a Latvian Christmas. I see you have other posts and I will check those out later today. I love and miss you guys. Enjoy your time in Latvia!
Thanks Mom!
Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve been thinking about you guys. Miss you!
Glad you enjoy. Thinking about you too!