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Sadarbībā ar Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienību, piedāvājam resursus un pārdomas par latviešu izglītību ārzemēs.
Explore our growing guide to the history of Latvian communities abroad in a project supported by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration.
Latest features
Latvian winter festival marks shortest day
December 21, 2005
The traditional Latvian Christmas (called Ziemassvētki, meaning “winter festival”) is an ancient holiday having nothing to do with the birth of Christ. Instead, Ziemassvētki marks the shortest day and longest night of the year—the winter solstice—falling on Dec. 21 or 22, depending on the year.
One of the most important things to do at Ziemassvētki is to pull a yule log (called simply bluķis in Latvian) around your home three times. The log collects all of the sorrows,…
07 Dec 2004
A primer on the Latvian folk religion
To understand how dievturība, the Latvian folk religion, evolved, it is important to recall some information that everybody already knows,…
09 May 2004
A primer on Ūsiņi, the start of summer
Although not as well known as other traditional Latvian holidays, Ūsiņi has a charm of its own, not the least…
16 Dec 2003
British yule, Latvian bluķis have similar roots
The Latvian timber industry is already known for its links to Great Britain, both historically as a provider of masts…
12 Oct 2003
Late autumn heralds time of the spirits
In late autumn—October and November—when the leaves have fallen, the field work is done and the weather is often foggy,…
28 Oct 2002
Latvia and the European Union: A primer
In a few years, Latvians from outside Europe visiting their ancestral homeland may be surprised that they’ll be paying for…
09 Sep 2002
Novuss: A guide to playing the game
Novuss is a popular game that might be best described as a Latvian billiards. But finding rules for this game,…
17 Jun 2002
Australia: Where ‘Midsummer’ is cold and dark
It gets dark at 5 p.m. these days in Melbourne. Every morning the chill in the air is more and…
23 Mar 2002
Lieldienas traditions celebrate rebirth
Although the ground is typically still snow-covered and frozen, the spring equinox, called Lielā diena or Lieldienas (The Great Day…
04 Nov 2001
With fieldwork done, it’s time for Mārtiņi
“Laid iekšā, saiminiece, man kājiņas nosalušas!” (Let me in—my feet are freezing!). Thus begins another winter and another mummers’ season…
16 Jul 2001
A primer on Latvian folk instruments
Although it is always the kokle that first comes to mind when talking about Latvian folk instruments, it is by…
What's new
News
03 Dec 2008
New coins honor chimney sweeps, basketball
Lucky Latvia is getting a million chimney sweeps—pictured on the back of a new 1-lat coin just released…
Columns
24 Nov 2008
Don’t dare say anything bad about the lat
During the next two weeks, a traveling exhibition on the 90-year history of Latvia’s security police will be…
News
21 Nov 2008
President accredits three new ambassadors
New Latvian ambassadors to China, Slovenia and Turkey have received letters of accreditation from President Valdis Zatlers, his…
In the forums
looking for Ingrida Balodis-Imcharen posted by indra_liepins on 04 Dec 2008
Austrālija posted by Rinalds on 04 Dec 2008
"A Tear in the NATO Bulwark" posted by ambersun on 03 Dec 2008
The Bookstore at Saulaine: Latvian Mittens! posted by Kristine Kirsch Stivrins on 03 Dec 2008
For the non-Polonophones, in English about Britain and Sikorski, Öffenheit and Umbau, and taking history seriously posted by ambersun on 02 Dec 2008
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