On a bright spring morning in Lucavsala, Rīga, to the sound of bagpipes, several people gathered in a group, ready to start their day much earlier than usual. At the spring solstice, the gates to winter are symbolically closed, and nature awakens.
"The passing of the year and its belonging to a kind of broader cycle, not like... everyday seconds. And this has big significance. So I gladly use every opportunity to feel the world turning," admitted Arturs, a participant of the event.
Two other celebrants, Zane and Ziema, said that they have long welcomed spring with songs, swings, eggs and eating. It is a tradition that they look forward to every year and get up early to celebrate together.
The organizers of the event, Gunta Siliņa-Jasjukeviča and Jānis Jasjukevičs, said that the most important traditions are, first of all, rejoicing in the nearness of summer, it is the celebration of the Great Day (in Latvian, Easter is 'Lieldienas' or literally 'Great days') when the day gets longer than the night.
One of the other spring equinox traditions is washing the face in running water, which increases beauty, health and energy, which might hopefully come in useful at the summer solstice in June, which is by far the most important date on the Latvian annual calendar.
A rather gray morning did not dampen the spirits of those taking part.
"It's an awakening, because spring is just coming. Whatever sort of spring it is. The sun could have been there, of course. But still, the day is wonderful," admitted Arnis, a participant of the event.
This year, the equinoctal celebrations took place in several places in the early hours of the morning. Including also outside the capital, while in Riga itself, apart from Lucavsala, there were two more places – Zaķusala and Arkadijas Park.
