Latvian Celebrations

In Gungas you will find the fitting background to celebrate several ethnographic celebrations of important events in life and traditions rooted in Latvian folklore.

Krustabas is the adoption of a child into the family. The child receives protection and is given a name that holds strength. Krustabas is the first great honor of life, during which kūmas or godmothers and godfathers, promise to protect the child. According to the old Latvian traditions, krustabas can take place even over two days – the first day is krustabas, and the second day is giving gifts to the child. In the descriptions of the customs, it is said that the event was held on the ninth day after the birth of the child. Nowadays, it may be held also later.

Mārtošana, Mičošana, or Hatting, means receiving the bride and groom as wife and husband.

Kāzas or Weddings have long been one of the most important events in the life of a Latvian. It is sung about in ancient songs and described by historians. The goal, to move from single to married, remains today as it was in ancient times.

Līdzināšana or Alignment is an ancient Latvian ritual, which nowadays is replaced or supplemented by a ceremony in the registry office or church. Its purpose is to connect the couple to cohabitation. Through this ritual both stand side by side.

Alignment can and is recommended to be repeated every ten years, because then an important stage of life has passed and something has changed in both the self and the other. A lot has been left behind and perhaps it is necessary to stop and look back.

Fire rituals. Fire is present in many Latvian celebrations and rituals. The time of origin of fire rituals cannot be determined. Man quite naturally felt the power and transformative effect of fire and started a conversation with fire. It gradually turned into a certain order bringing change. Fire has a powerful purifying, transforming power, and as a result, space is also freed for new events, new things. Fire is believed to ward off evil and bring prosperity.

In the sacrificial fire ritual, small things are offered to the fire (women usually offer something made of wool, while men offer small items of metal). The blessing of fire as well as water and bread has always been present in the celebrations of Latvians. Therefore, also during the marriage ceremony, the new couple cleans and polishes everything that was, is and will be in the blessing of the spring water, as well as makes sacrifices to the fire, so that the path of life together will be filled with light and warmth.

The presence of fire has always been part of the magic of the winter solstice. A fire ritual performed on the shortest night of the year gives strength, energy and endurance.

Latvian sauna rituals. A sauna is a place where time stops, where the soul finds respite from the hectic everyday life. It is a place where we can feel and hear ourselves again. For many years, the main place of healing for our ancestors has been the sauna, which is important for strengthening and rejuvenating health, especially the thermo-contrast procedures available in the sauna plus the healing power of plants. Even today, Latvian bathhouse traditions differ from the traditions of other nations precisely because of the abundant use of plants.

The sauna ritual will appeal to both experienced sauna goers and those who want to get to know the sauna world – couples, friends, family, individually and in groups.

We cooperate with bathers who are true masters of their craft, who understand the importance of the bath ritual and are able to implement and explain it.

Pirtīža

Many ancient cultures have rituals, the symbolic meaning of which is to seal the unity of woman and child during pregnancy and separate their spiritual structures for independent life in this world. The ancient Latvians also had such a ritual, called pirtīža. This is a special ritual that helps the mother to regain herself again, that welcomes the baby into the world, and that helps the baby and the mother to “fix” themselves physiologically.

Our ancestors took baths on the eighth day after birth, i.e. the day before the krustabas, which, according to ancient Latvian custom, took place on the ninth day. Nowadays, on average, this could happen up to the age of three months, but babies around one month old are said to be the most suitable for saunas. Baths can also be performed on a one-year-old baby.

Bridal bath ritual. Those girls who like Latvian traditions are recommended to perform Līgavu pirti. It is a special ritual with (traditionally female) friends to do before the wedding. Washing the bride’s back is a ritual performed by the bride with her sisters and friends before the wedding. The goal is to wash away all excess not only physically but also mentally before the important event. It is the time when the bride can still enjoy the sauna and spend time with her friends as a free and unattached woman, because after the wedding, life will begin a different rhythm.

The ritual of pampering the young couple in the sauna. Couples are also fond of the rituals of pampering the new couple in the sauna, or a pre-wedding spanking for the new couple. This ritual symbolizes that both are kicked together, it is a joint enjoyable experience in the sauna, through which to get rid of tension before the wedding.

Annual honors. The traditional world view of ancient Latvians and also of many other peoples has been formed in a dialogue with nature, God (Deities, their manifestations) and fellow human beings. Living harmoniously is one of the essential wisdoms of our ancestors – to be in harmony with nature, God, fellow human beings and oneself. As the Earth revolves around the Sun in one year, there are four significant points related to changes in the length of day and night. Seasonal customs are subordinated to nature and the work to be done. Already in ancient times, people organized the year into eight seasons, which are related to the position of the sun in the sky.