Solstice and Equinox in Latvian traditions
Spring - the first anniversary of the year
Spring is the first of four annual rings. Latvians believed about the beginning of Easter, others - Shrovetide, but it seems most likely the version that it was not tied to a specific date and it has been considered the beginning of time, when the snow began to melt, go ice and germinate the first sprouts.
Spring time top warmer and the earth wakes up - sprouting grass, trees thrive page.
Winter slowly recedes, the long, dark nights grow shorter, until finally the day has been extended with just as long as the night. Is present Easter time. After the feast days will already be longer than the nights and will continue to grow until midsummer. Interestingly, the same name - Easter, Great Day - refers to the relevance of the event.
In the past Easter celebrated three days, in leap years, even four days. People delighted at the incoming spring, the light and life of victory over darkness and death, expressed and confirmed the events of Easter.
Spring is the first of four annual rings. Latvians believed about the beginning of Easter, others - Shrovetide, but it seems most likely the version that it was not tied to a specific date and it has been considered the beginning of time, when the snow began to melt, go ice and germinate the first sprouts.
Spring time top warmer and the earth wakes up - sprouting grass, trees thrive page.
Winter slowly recedes, the long, dark nights grow shorter, until finally the day has been extended with just as long as the night. Is present Easter time. After the feast days will already be longer than the nights and will continue to grow until midsummer. Interestingly, the same name - Easter, Great Day - refers to the relevance of the event.
In the past Easter celebrated three days, in leap years, even four days. People delighted at the incoming spring, the light and life of victory over darkness and death, expressed and confirmed the events of Easter.
Summer - the second anniversary of the year
When arrived on the longest day, followed by the shortest night, Latvians celebrate the Summer Solstice. Real Midsummer Day after St. Gregory the calendar is June 23. Midsummer is the biggest and most loved Latvian celebration. So they are going in hard. be treated farm work, must be rooted out gardens and flowerbeds, tidy yard. Hostesses sowing cheese, owners of barley beer did.
The day before Midsummer called Medicines day. Day when the sun its light and warmth at this time gives the most generous, people believed in it picked medicine has a special power.
Autumn - the third anniversary of the year
Autumn is the third of the four anniversaries. Mikel is the day when astronomical autumn begins, but it is quite clear the Latvians thought that it is sooner - Marais. However, it seems the most likely version that autumn has not been tied to a specific date and it has been considered the beginning of time to remain colder, the trees begin to turn yellow pages.
Astronomical autumn solstice - the moment when night becomes as long as the date is September 23. However, from the folklore materials can judge that solstice celebrations over time were linked to Michael Day - 29 September. Therefore, these festivals often been called Michaelmas.
Around this time the whole grain had to be mowed and gathered under the roof. Thus solstice celebration merged with the harvest festival.
Winter - the fourth anniversary of the year
Fourth and last Midsummer festival is Christmas - a time when the shortest day and longest night. The sun is starting to return after Christmas and the days are longer.
The solstice day is 22 December. But, as far as we can tell from folk songs and other materials, Christmas celebrated 3-4 days from 20 December. -21.
Winter solstice is going in a timely manner: the room, decorated with ornaments from straw, dried flowers of shavings, feathers, wool. Especially popular are Christmas trees or different compositions, usually made from straw or reed pieces.
Being prepared food and beverages. An integral part of the Christmas table component considers pigs proboscis, beans, peas, pearls, sausages, pies, beer.
Ancient Latvian calendar
The solar calendar year is divided into seasons. The division points into four sun runners - Easter, Midsummer, Michaelmas, and Christmas. In the middle of the main incision is Shrovetide, Usini James and Martin. So the year divided into eight parts. Although some are celebrated all major anniversary celebrations, but the most celebrated is the summer and winter solstices.
Easter in Latvia is called Easter, or Great Days. The word Easter was, in the past, associated with the spring equinox. However, the introduction and observance of Christianity conflated pagan and Christian traditions. Latvian Easter continues to incorporate pagan customs, beliefs, and rituals (like egg-cracking wars and swinging on the Easter swing) and are related to the lengthening of days, the return of warm weather, and the sun’s growing presence as winter recedes into the past.
Summer Solstice is a solar victory celebration, when the sun has reached its highest position of the mountain and the sky shines the longest day. Midsummer marks the long time between the sun revolves annual up and down the way across the sky; the flow of time seems as if for a moment stopped. Lighted Ligo bonfire that dispels the darkness of the shortest night, rituals mimic the light and solar generation. Midsummer celebration main basic functions are the promotion of fertility.
Winter solstice, is celebrated when the sun is lowest, shortest day, the longest of the night. They Latvians had the second highest behind the Midsummer celebration. Festivities celebrating important to know why we do it. Winter solstice is the time when appreciate what was done in the last year and perform rituals to get rid of the bad, as well as put the basis for the celebration of the New Year. My thoughts and prayer rituals invoke all the good things we want to improve and accomplish next year as for example dragging around the yuletide log. This is the pagan Christmas or the night of the yuletide log. In February people celebrate Shrovetide and in spring they celebrate Easter, which of course has no lack of
Sources:http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/latviatravel/fl/Easter-in-Latvia.htm
http://www.latvia.travel/en/article/folklore-and-traditions
http://muzejs.valmiera.lv/index.php/griezes/
Easter in Latvia is called Easter, or Great Days. The word Easter was, in the past, associated with the spring equinox. However, the introduction and observance of Christianity conflated pagan and Christian traditions. Latvian Easter continues to incorporate pagan customs, beliefs, and rituals (like egg-cracking wars and swinging on the Easter swing) and are related to the lengthening of days, the return of warm weather, and the sun’s growing presence as winter recedes into the past.
Summer Solstice is a solar victory celebration, when the sun has reached its highest position of the mountain and the sky shines the longest day. Midsummer marks the long time between the sun revolves annual up and down the way across the sky; the flow of time seems as if for a moment stopped. Lighted Ligo bonfire that dispels the darkness of the shortest night, rituals mimic the light and solar generation. Midsummer celebration main basic functions are the promotion of fertility.
Winter solstice, is celebrated when the sun is lowest, shortest day, the longest of the night. They Latvians had the second highest behind the Midsummer celebration. Festivities celebrating important to know why we do it. Winter solstice is the time when appreciate what was done in the last year and perform rituals to get rid of the bad, as well as put the basis for the celebration of the New Year. My thoughts and prayer rituals invoke all the good things we want to improve and accomplish next year as for example dragging around the yuletide log. This is the pagan Christmas or the night of the yuletide log. In February people celebrate Shrovetide and in spring they celebrate Easter, which of course has no lack of
Sources:http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/latviatravel/fl/Easter-in-Latvia.htm
http://www.latvia.travel/en/article/folklore-and-traditions
http://muzejs.valmiera.lv/index.php/griezes/