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This Friday, 19 December, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., residents of Jelgava and visitors to the city are invited to celebrate the Winter Solstice in the Vecpilsēta Street quarter. Reviving ancestral traditions, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in dances and games, make masks and decorations, enjoy traditional treats, participate in the log-pulling ritual, attend a concert, and join in other festive activities. Participation in the event is free of charge.

Since ancient times, the Winter Solstice has marked the moment when the shortest day of the year meets the longest night, symbolising the rebirth of the sun and the victory of light over darkness. On this day, our ancestors observed various rituals, honouring the efforts of the past year and invoking luck, prosperity, and abundance for the coming year. To gain a deeper understanding of Latvian winter traditions and their meaning, on 19 December from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. a traditions workshop will take place in the weaving workshop of the Dzīvesziņa and Crafts Courtyard, led by Baiba Ērgle. Alongside stories about ancestral heritage, guests will be treated to oven-baked gingerbread. Please note that the number of participants is limited; therefore, interested persons are asked to register in advance by calling 29116210 or by emailing austras.raksti@gmail.com.

At the opening of the event, the folklore group “Dimzēns” will invite visitors in the Dzīvesziņa and Crafts Courtyard to join in singing, dancing, traditional Latvian winter games, and one of the most important Winter Solstice rituals – log pulling. The Winter Solstice is often even referred to as Log Evening, as this ritual is believed to drive away darkness, cold, the misfortunes of the past year, and negative thoughts. By burning the log pulled through the courtyards, our ancestors made room for bright thoughts at the beginning of the new solar year, and this time as well the people of Jelgava will continue the tradition.

Solstice celebrants will also be invited to take part in themed workshops. In the Jelgava Old Town House, Inga Liepa will offer a workshop on making a traditional Winter Solstice ornament. This will also be an opportunity to explore the Old Town House, one of the oldest and most valuable residential wooden houses in Jelgava that has survived to the present day. Meanwhile, in the ceramics workshop of the Dzīvesziņa and Crafts Courtyard, guests will be invited to create ķisti ornaments. These decorations, shaped like an angular sun, were traditionally made during the Winter Solstice, when the time was darkest and people longed for the sun. The finished suns can be strung together into a hanging ornament, placing the largest at the top and the smaller ones below. The decorations can be embellished with colourful fabric strips, feathers, and other materials. Fortune casting is also part of the festivities, so from 6:45 p.m. in the weaving workshop of the Dzīvesziņa and Crafts Courtyard, guests will be able to pour paraffin fortune charms and learn what the near and more distant future may hold.

Guests will also be able to enjoy sour cabbage soup cooked over an open fire and sample a traditional Latvian winter dish – grey peas. Refreshments in the courtyard, like the creative workshops, will be free of charge for Solstice celebrants. Along Vecpilsēta Street, a Solstice market will take place, where artisans and home producers will offer Latvian-made treats, various crafts, and Christmas-themed decorations. Caterers will also be present, offering hearty meals.

A special atmosphere on Vecpilsēta Street will be created by free horse-drawn carriage rides, offered by horse breeder and trainer Augēnija Kupče. From 8:00 p.m., the folk group “Dārdi” will take the stage at the end of Vecpilsēta Street with a festive concert. The event will be hosted by actor Jānis Grūtups.

To further immerse themselves in the Winter Solstice spirit, everyone is encouraged to attend wearing a traditional Latvian mask or dressed in a mummers’ costume. The most creative mask wearers will receive small prizes during the event.

TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

Drivers are advised that traffic restrictions will be in place in the Vecpilsēta Street quarter during the festivities. On 19 December, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., entry will be prohibited on the section of Vecpilsēta Street from the Dzīvesziņa and Crafts Courtyard (Vecpilsēta Street 2) to the Jelgava Old Town House (Vecpilsēta Street 14).