This channel has become a lot more inactive over time, in part due to other channels filling this Baltic content niche better.

However, for those more interested in Latvian Folklore and even spirituality, please subscribe to https://t.me/dievatzina

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Dievatziņa 🇱🇻

Dainas + Latvian Folk Wisdom & News Most of the Dainas featured are sourced from dainuskapis.lv

? PhotographyA tranquil lake, somewhere deep in ?? Latvia

@OfficialBaltija

? MapsA map of the current Latvian dialects created for a ?? Latvian Grammar book published in 2021.

Source = Latvian Grammar by Andra Kalnača and Ilze Lokmane.

Sticker variations. Remade Interwar poster.

? Photography?? A beautiful photograph of a sunset in Saulkrasti, Latvia.

Source - Reddit

Today marks the 104th Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia.
May Latvia, its land and people endure for many centuries yet to come.

Pictured is the 1936 November 18th cover of the 'Atpūta' magazine.

Dievs svētī Latviju! ??

"Mārtiņdiena" (Mārtiņš' day) or more properly called Apkūlības (Bundling), is a Latvian festival which marks the proper beginning of the month of November, and the coming of Winter, on the 10th day of the month.

Many of its traditions are Latvian folk 'distortions' of the myth of the Roman soldier Saint Martin, like ritual sacrifices of roosters, predictions of fate, and animal-masked Halloween-esque travels.

On one hand this is syncretism, on the other, similar traditions have been witnessed in other dates unrelated to the church ones, both in Latvia and Lithuania. On top of that, such animal idolatry and sacrifice would not be permitted by the church. As shown in the painting, Mārtiņš is an aspect of Pērkons, the Thunderer.

The painting is "Mārtiņš" by Jēkabs Bīne. ??

Holiday/ObservationLāčplēša Diena / Lāčplēsis day

Order of Lāčplēsis / the military parade in 2013Today is a memorial day for soldiers who fought for the independence of Latvia. Honoring the 743 soldiers that fell in a battle which helped newly formed Latvia immensely.

During the 1919 Battle of Rīga during the Latvian Independence War, the Latvians succeeded in defeating the West Russian Volunteer Army - made up of volunteers from Germany and Russia.

The formation and observation of this day was spearheaded by Latvian Writer Karlis Skalbe, who compared the force of the Latvian Army against the russian/german army to the spirit of Lāčplēsis (The bearslayer epic which is highly important to Latvian culture.) The constitutional assembly of Latvia soon after the war created the Order of Lāčplēsis to commemorate those who led the Latvian Army to victory.

On the 11th of November in 1920 the first awarding ceremony for the order of lāčplēsis was given, Jānis Čakste awarded 288 Knights.

Source