Transcript Latvian life traditions Baptism • • • • • • Traditional baptism (called “krustabas” in Latvian) is celebrated 9 days after the birth of the child Main role of.

Latvian life traditions
Baptism
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Traditional baptism (called “krustabas” in Latvian) is
celebrated 9 days after the birth of the child
Main role of this celebration belongs to the godparents,
main task - find a name for the child
Name is chosen by observing the nature at the time of
birth, the child’s behavior and other signs
It is believed that the child will be similar to his
godparents in character
It is also believed that the godparents’ behavior can
affect the child’s life
Boys usually had 2 godfathers and 1 godmother, girls 1 godfather and 2 godmothers
Baptism - day one
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First meal - only “white” food (milk, cheese,
white bread), symbolizes bright future
After, godparents take the child and go
“name looking” at the “church of Māra”
At the church of Māra, the family decides
which godparent will be the one to bring the
child to the cross and which godparent’s
chosen name will be given to the child
Name giving and vow making at the cross
Baptism - day one
Baptism - day one
Baptism - day one
Baptism - day one
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After the ceremony, the family brings the
child back to his parents while singing, and
later reveals his name
Before or during the main meal, the family
members ask each other out on a traditional
dance called “pādes dīdīšana”, during which
they hold the child in their hands and make
wishes for him
Baptism - day one
Baptism - day one
Baptism - day two
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Main event - cradle making
Godfather makes the cradle, godmother sets
it up and decorates it
When the cradle is ready, it is put at a sunny
place next to a window
First, a rock is put in the cradle to fool the
envious people and divert the negative from
the child
When the child is in the cradle, the gifting
begins
Baptism - day two
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Godfather gifts money
Godmother gifts clothing
After them, the rest of the family gives gifts
while singing
When the ceremony comes to a close, the
godparents sing the child a lullaby and the
guests leave
The traditional Latvian lullaby “Aijā, žūžū” is
recognised as one of the most beautiful in
the world
Baptism - day two
Name day
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Most Latvian names are given a day to
celebrate; those not in the list celebrate on
February 29 or May 22
Traditional Latvian calendars have up to 4
names each day, 1000 in a year
Extended and church calendars can have up
to 5000 names a year
No traditional ceremony
The person celebrating brings snacks to
work/school and receives small presents
Wedding
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During spring, both men and women look for
their match
When a match is found, a process called
“derības” is organised
“Derības” could only be arranged on lucky
days - Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or
Sunday, mostly Thursday - and only during
full moon to symbolise a full life for the
couple
Wedding
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“Derības” is followed by a proposal and a
promise to be together for life
Weddings are traditionally organised during
autumn
The groom goes to bride’s home together
with his best man and best man’s wife
The bride is dressed by many women from
her family; they dress her up slowly and in
many layers of clothing with a finishing touch
- wreath
Wedding
Wedding
Wedding
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On road to the groom’s home, the bride is
accompanied by two people; the rest of her family
follows, symbolizing a chase after the bride in an
attempt to get her back, while the two people who
came together with the bride lay obstacles in their
path
The procession is stopped by people living along
the road, they don’t let the bride pass until a fee is
paid
The whole ride is full of noises and songs so that
everybody far and wide can hear
Wedding
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Upon arrival at the groom’s home, the procession is
greeted by the groom’s father with beer
Bride drinks first, then everybody else
Bride gives the groom’s father a pair of gloves, then the
gates are opened and everybody comes inside the yard
The bride and the groom write some of their sins they’d
like to get rid of on paper, as well as a letter to the other
person which can only be read a year after getting
married
After, they go to a holy place in nature (usually great
oak trees or giant boulders), where they burn the sins
and the wedding ritual is held
Wedding
Wedding
Wedding
Wedding
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After the wedding ceremony, everybody
goes back to the groom’s house
The bride’s wreath is changed for a wife’s
crown (this is called “mičošana”, the wife’s
crown is called “mice”) and the meal begins
After the meal, the newlyweds go to bed,
which the guests have “enhanced” with
various items to affect the son’s or
daughter’s birth
Wedding
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The bride gives presents to the groom’s
family
The groom’s mother receives a white woolen
shawl, father and brothers get shirts, gloves
and socks, sisters receive shawls, belts,
garters
The whole process ends the next Sunday
after wedding, when the newlyweds go to
visit the bride’s family, where the bride says
goodbye to everybody once more
Funeral
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Traditional latvian name: “bedības”
Traditional funeral food - peas and beans
The moment the person dies, all windows
and doors are opened so that the soul can
go to God unhindered
Only invited guests attend, mostly family
Symbolic tree for funerals - spruce
Funeral - day one
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The first day is called “vāķēšana”; it starts in
the evening and lasts all night
Main events: meal, candle burning (to “light
the way”), talking about the deceased
The deceased was traditionally dressed in
white, with white sheets on the bed and
white padding in the coffin
Also traditional was putting some items in
the coffin, like the favorite things of the
deceased, perhaps gloves and socks
Funeral - day two
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The second day is called “izvadīšana”, meaning
to lead the deceased out, to God
Usually starts early in the morning, because it is
believed that the gates of Heaven are open until
noon
Everybody tries to fulfill the deceased person’s
last wishes
Special care is taken to choose horses and
decorate them; white horses are avoided
because they can be seen from afar, which
might distract the soul on its way to Heaven
Funeral - day two
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When the coffin is brought to the grave, a person called
“vīkšējs” gives a speech, which traditionally contains
verses related to passing away
During the speech, the coffin is put in the grave
Everybody, starting from the closest relatives, drops 3
handfuls of sand on the coffin
The grave is filled up with a sand mound on top, in
which a cross is engraved, and a gravestone is placed
on the head side of the mound
Mourners return home singing, have a meal, dance,
even play games
If the deceased wasn’t married, the ceremony
symbolizes wedding
Funeral
Funeral
Funeral - related
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“Mourning day”, also called the “candle evening” celebrated one week before the First Sunday of Advent
“Grave festival” - celebrated on weekends in the period
between June and September, exact date depends on
the graveyard.
Graves are tidied up, flowers and candles replaced,
fresh sand is put on the grave mounds.
Friends and relatives come to the graves of the
deceased and have a short meal while remembering
them
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