If you ever needed a reason to visit Latvia, it doesn’t get more authentic than this: every Summer Solstice, Latvia is searching for the legendary fern blossom (Papardes zieds), in a pagan festival known locally by many names: Līgo!, Jāņi Day, Grass Day, and Grass Evening. Call it what you may, Latvians consider this the most authentic and the most Latvian of their holidays.
Mid-summer festival Līgo (female name Līga is celebrated in June 23 and līgovakars takes place every year on the night between June 23rd and 24th) or Jāņi (male name Jānis is one of the most popular in Latvia and is celebrated at June 24) is a celebration of the summer solstice.
Jāņi is an ancient festival originally celebrated in honour a Latvian pagan deity Jānis, referred to as a "Son of God" in some ancient Latvian folksongs. Jānis is also traditionally the most common of Latvian male given names, corresponding to English name John. Image courtesy, Tuomo Tammenpää, on Flickr.
Līgo! and Jāņi are still celebrated according to ancient, pagan traditions, that require people to wash their faces with the morning dew, to harvest herbs that hold magical powers only at midsummer, and to lit large bonfires – a celebration that still bears traces of an ancient cult of the Sun.
For the people of Latvia, Jāņi Day is the ideal occasion to celebrate the country side, and preserve traditions that shaped the Latvian spirit from ancient times till today. Those who cannot celebrate the event at the country side, enjoy special programs in bars, city squares, and other locations. Since this is a national holiday, you can expect to see it everywhere in Latvia. Latvians in diaspora celebrate as well – you’ll get a taste of the true Latvia everywhere in the world where Latvians live, but the most spectacular events are still held around Riga. Summers are the best times to visit this beautiful country.
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