Ziemassvētki

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Ziemassvētki is a Latvian festival that celebrates the winter solstice and the birth of Jesus. People in Latvia and around the world celebrate from 24 to 25 December. December 24 is Ziemassvētku vakars (Christmas Eve), December 25 is Pirmie Ziemassvētki (First Christmas), and December 26 is Otrie Ziemassvētki (Second Christmas). While Christmas is about Jesus, many people who are not Christians also celebrate Ziemassvētki.

Today’s traditions include decorating the Christmas tree (Ziemassvētku egle), having Ziemassvētku vecītis (Santa Claus or Salavecis) bring gifts, baking gingerbread (piparkūkas), and the pleasant scent of mandarins. The Christmas tree tradition in Latvia goes back to medieval times, with notes from Riga’s Blackheads Guild around 1510 and earlier mentions from 1476. Originally the “tree” was more like a decoration made from sticks or a bouquet and was taken outside to be burned around January 6. A similar tradition existed in Tallinn (Reval) in 1514, and the idea spread to other places.

Yule Eve, or Dance Eve, influenced these traditions. People danced, sang, and sometimes burned a log that later evolved into burning a fir tree. Ancient customs included log pulling to honor the sun, and meals with barley or wheat grains, sometimes with a pig’s head, peas, and beans.

Another old tradition was the ķekatas, or mummers, who dressed in masks and visited villages to bring blessings and ward off evil spirits. Masks could resemble bears or other creatures, and disguises were used to represent spirits or powers.

Traditional decorations use spruce branches, feathers, eggs, straw, fruits, vegetables, and berries. Gifts are placed under the tree, and in many homes a poem or song might be recited to receive a gift. Ziemassvētku vecītis (Santa) is the one who usually brings gifts, and sometimes dwarfs or other figures help. At children’s celebrations, people might dress as wild animals or dwarfs, reflecting older customs. In more recent times, Father Budēļi, the old festival leader, was transformed into Ziemassvētku vecītis as part of these new traditions.