Three for the Easter Weekend in Latvia

Take note – story published 4 years ago

It's the long Easter (Lieldienas, literally "big day") weekend in Latvia and as ever there are myriad things to occupy your time.

Swinging in Sigulda 

There's nothing a Latvian likes more at this time of year than a good swing - in fact it is practically obligatory to soar through the ether, otherwise nasty things are likely to happen to you for the rest of the year. Swings will be set up across the country to accomplish the task, but the swinging capital of Latvia (an unfortunate phrase in English, admittedly) is Sigulda which has an entire swing festival running April 20-22. During the festival there will be an opportunity to try more than 100 swings of different constructions and sizes in the city of Sigulda and the nature trails of the Gauja valley for three days set on a three-kilometer walk. It's also a good chance to scout out what might become an Olympic town in 2026!

Eggs in Rīga

As ever, the Latvian capital has a wide range of festive activities to see you through the Easter holidays, beginning in the Christian mood on April 19 with believers following the stations of the cross through the city streets, starting 12.00 at the Riga St. Jacob's Cathedral.

There is plenty for the more pagan-hearted too, at this seasonal festival, with children especially welcome. Easter creative workshops will run at the Riga Porcelain Museum, while swings will be set up near the Freedom Monument and in Livu Square. 

Various activities and workshops, plus live performances will take place at the Culture Palace “Ziemeļblāzma” and at the VEF Culture Palace. More extensive holiday programs with information on participants, time and place is available at the municipal website, but sadly only in Latvian and Russian.

Easter Stories in Džukste

Put the narrative sense back into Easter with a folk- and fairy-tale themed celebration at the museum in Džukste, Tukums district from 12:00 on April 20. Visitors to the museum are invited to explore Easter traditions, paint and roll eggs. You gotta roll eggs, obviously. There will also be an opportunity to play handmade dolls on Latvian motifs of Easter fairy tales.

The Džūkste Fairy Tale Museum was founded in December 2001, and is hosted in the former building of Lancenieki school, where a teacher, writer, collector of more than 6,000 tales and legends, Anss Lerhis-Puškaitis (1859-1903) worked.

You can find a more comprehensive list of suggestions for things to do at our Latvian portal.

 

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