About midsummer

Midsummer's Night Celebration

 "Līgo" The Midsummer's Night Celebration, or "Jāņi," is one of Latvia's most elaborate celebrations. It is celebrated on June 23 each year to mark the beginning of summer and the changing of the seasons, when the days get shorter but the nights get longer. An ancient pagan festival that took place between grain sowing and harvesting serves as the basis for this holiday.

It is a celebration that has kept ancient customs like picking plants from flowering meadows, making wreaths, lighting a campfire and jumping over it, and looking for fern flowers alive today.

Midsummer is when flowers bloom: Latvia blooms in June with meadows, cornfields, potatoes, peas, and beans; Consequently, Midsummer's Eve is frequently referred to as Herb Evening or Herb Day. Every flower and herb have its own place in local culture, whether it's in folk medicine, fortune-telling, decorating, giving gifts, or making wreaths. On this holiday, the night is especially significant. Because it is the shortest night of the year, it is customary to stay awake on it. According to old myths, people who sleep through the night will sleep through the summer. Additionally, in order for men to have money poured into their boots, men must wade through the dew on the morning of Ji to wash their faces in the dew.

Naturally, one needs to eat well after participating in so many activities. Without patties, beer, and caraway cheese, the Jāņi celebration table is impossible to imagine.