RIGA (Latvia)
23 June - 24 June 2017
23 June - 24 June 2017
Jāņi is an annual Latvian festival that celebrates the Summer solstice. Although, astronomically the solstice falls on either the 21st or 22nd of June, the public holidays of Līgo day and Jāņi day occur on the 23rd and 24th of June.
From what I was told its common for people to travel from the city to the countryside. Apparently most people living in the city has some sort of attachment or relationship to an area of a country and this time of year is made for that style of visit. The premise of what happens then is a common factor inherent in most celebration around the world, people gather to eat, drink, sing, celebrate and observe ancient folk traditions relating to renewal and fertility.
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Wearing the Oak leaf wreath - Vidzeme Smiltene
Municipality - Latvia
Līgo Jāņi all set to proceed - Vidzeme - Smiltene
Municipality - Latvia
Our wedding had been planned for the 30th of June, so it just happened that the timing of our impending nuptials fit in perfectly with the Līgo day and Jāņi (Summer solstice) celebrations.
Now when I say, just happened, the all important caveat is that the day we selected was actually done son on the advice of a numerologist known to Inga's mother. The suggestion of the 30th of June was made on her assessment that the 30th was a day that would bring us good luck and fortune. I can't help but also think that now, on the back of such an important holiday that celebrates both renewal and fertility, that her outlook was inspired by running one major event off the back of another. Logical and appropriate.
Now when I say, just happened, the all important caveat is that the day we selected was actually done son on the advice of a numerologist known to Inga's mother. The suggestion of the 30th of June was made on her assessment that the 30th was a day that would bring us good luck and fortune. I can't help but also think that now, on the back of such an important holiday that celebrates both renewal and fertility, that her outlook was inspired by running one major event off the back of another. Logical and appropriate.
The celebration of Līgo Jāņi this year would of course have additional significance due to our wedding being held in its afterglow and for the fact that we had planned a small gathering outside of Latvia with invites only going to very immediate family. This Summer solstice celebration would therefore also double as pre-wedding celebrations with Inga's family, which I thought was going to be a nice touch.
My oak wreath for representing physical strength and Inga's wreath of flowers and herbs for protection from disease, disaster and enemies
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme- Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Latvian flag raised - Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
....And HOLY COW....I have to say that I've NEVER been so IMPRESSED with the hosts of an event as I was with Inga's family. It was absolutely fabulous. So warm, so homely and welcoming, full of tradition and for me inspired in terms of the setting and how magical the surrounds were.
Inga's mother has family that live in the countryside at about the 150km marker. As we drove in we were already in celebration mode. There was a large commercial grade tent or gazebo set up with a long table, decorations and what seemed liked an infinite amount of food. Considering Inga & I had been on a strict diet for so long I had raised my hand to be the representative of our new family in this instance and partake in all the delightful culinary options on offer....and boy, didn't I have an absolute blast. I weight myself the next evening and realised, not surprisingly, that I'd put on 3.5kgs! The accompanying tradition is of course the consumption of alcohol, which for the purposes of trying to maintain a semblance of shape I opted out of on this occasion, much to my own chagrin.
Looks like about 4pm in Australia, I believe this was close to 9pm
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Wedding gift
Vidzeme - Smiltene - Municipality - Latvia
How about that for special!!!
Now during Jāņi the tradition is to gather the most herbaceous of plant material and utilise it to decorate rooms, yards, court yards, grounds etc. This was of course done, ever so tastefully and expertly around the entire area. Additionally, circular wreaths are also made, with different types being made for females and males. Females usually have wreaths made of flowers, fresh herbs and grasses. Braided with other herbs, these are meant to repel disease, disaster and enemies. Men on the other hand have wreaths made of oak leaves, which in turn symbolises the physical strength associated with the oak tree.
Setting light to be taken into the new solar year - Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Lanterns and candles made for a magical outlook
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Into the early hours - this was around 2am
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
What an afternoon/evening it was. There were folk songs, wedding games, drinking, eating and just a hell of a good time, all underpinned by a magical type of ambience for me, brought about by being part of something completely foreign to me, the nature of the setting and also being welcomed into a new family.
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Another tradition is that Jāņi fires are lit in the early evening (sunset) and are meant to be burned all night until morning. This practice is meant to reflect the belief that the light from the fires will transmit into the new solar year. They are also meant to be set at a high point in the immediate surrounds so as to bestow power and fertility onto the people on which is shines.
The goodness in this pot will cure all hangovers!
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
Vidzeme - Smiltene Municipality - Latvia
As the fires were lit and both Līgo and Jāņi songs were sung well into the illuminated night, I felt very lucky to be in the position I was. Not just to have the experience that I was having but lucky to be marrying the person that I was and also thankful for the welcome that I was being given. It's hard to be able to offer foreigners these types of experience and for them to really appreciate it. I think that in this scenario it went both ways, the time, planning and work that went into this particular event was enormous and there's no amount that I could, at the time, offer in return other than to say that I was so very grateful.
