210 likes | 340 Views
COMENIUS MULTILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS. Easter in Latvia. Prepared by M.Dunkers.
E N D
COMENIUS MULTILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS Easter inLatvia PreparedbyM.Dunkers
InLatvia, the Easter holidayconsistsofspecialdays: MoundyThursday, GoodFriday, HolySaturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday. Inaddition to thepracticesoftheChristianChurch, manyLatviansobserveolderpre-Christiantraditionsaswell to welcometherebirthofnatureandthearrivalofspring.
Howis Easter celebratedinthechurch? Easter is a happytime. It isfestivalofhopeandlight. It celebratesnewlife. Inchurches Easter willbecelebratedwithspecialservices. TheywillbereallyhappyoccasionsrememberingJesuscoming to lifeafterhiscrueldeathonthecross.
Latvia, isa countrywherealmosteveryfeastencompassesChristianandLatviantraditions. Easter isalsotimeforcelebratingthespringsolstice, when, according to Latviantraditionalbeliefsandrituals, peopletry to helpthesoilwakeupandbecomefertile, byencouragingitsbenevolence. Forthemostpart, inLatvia Easter celebrationstakeplaceinthecentralsquares, aswellasincultureinstitutionsandmuseums. Easter isusuallycelebratedinthefamilyoramongclosefriends.
Easter is a festivalofspringandthebeginningofnewlife. Easter symbolsarecolouredeggsandwillowbranches. The Easter EggpredatestheChristianholidayof Easter. Theexchangeofeggsinthespringtimeis a customthatwascenturiesoldwhen Easter was first celebratedbyChristians. Fromtheearliesttimes, theeggwas a symbolofrebirthinmostcultures. Eggswereoftenwrappedingoldleafor, ifyouwere a peasant, coloredbrightlybyboilingthemwiththeleavesorpetalsofcertainflowers.
LatvianTraditionalBeliefs Easter morningyoushouldarisebeforethesunandwashyourfacein a spring to preservevitalityandjoyforthecomingyearand to enhancegoodspirit, healthandbeauty. Thosewhohaverisen first, wakeupthosewhoarestillsleepingandswatthemwithpussywillowsandsteamedbirchbranches, chanting "Apaļš kā pūpols, apaļš kā pūpols, veselība iekšā, slimība ārā" (Roundlikepussywillow, roundlikepussywillow! Healthcomein, illnessbegone!). Thisisgiving a blessingofgoodhealthforthecomingyear.Oneofthemostimportant Easter ritualsisthehangingoftheswingandswinging, sothatyouwillbespared bites frombugsandsnakes.
No Latvian Easter iscompletewithoutcoloringeggs! Andonlynaturalcoloursareused, amongthemonionskins, bark, birchbuds, camomille, andotherfieldplants.
Duelsareanothertradition. Eggsareknockedtogether to seewhichonesurvivescracking. Remember, thosewhoeateggswithout salt, willtell lies allyear!
TheLatvianEthnographicOpenAirMuseumwillcelebrate Easter everyyear, andwillfeature a combinationofChristian, ancientandmodern Easter traditions.