It is a day characterised by services, parades and the lighting of candles at Rīga Castle and other public places around the country, and the laying of flowers upon war graves.
Known as 'Lāčplēsis Day' (Lāčplēsis being the name of Latvia's mythical warrior hero), while it coincides with the date upon which the 1918 Armistice at the end of the First World War is commemorated in many other countries, the Latvian events are subtly different, officially marking the day a year later in 1919 when a crucial victory against allied German and White Russian forces under Count Pavel Bermondt-Avalov was won by the fledgling republic, which had declared independence a year earlier.
During the decisive battles in and around Rīga, Latvia lost 743 soldiers, of whom 57 were officers, according to the Latvian Army.
It is often observed that though 1918 is regarded as the final year of World War One, in Latvia harsh military conflicts continued for a considerable period after that date, with Latvia receiving crucial support from its northern neighbor, Estonia, to repel not only the West Russian Volunteer Army but the Red Army, too.
Latvia also received valuable assistance from British and French warships. Later, in 1920, Polish troops helped the Latvian Army expel the Red Army from Daugavpils and the surrounding area before ceasefires with Germany and Soviet Russia were eventually signed.
But as with other remembrance events, Lāčplēsis Day is not only a day of historical commemoration but is also used to express appreciation for the service and sacrifice of all those who have served in the armed forces since and who do so today.
More details about the historical context and meaning of Lāčplēsis Day can be found in this excellent independently-made online timeline.
If you happen to be in Rīga and wish to learn more about Latvia's military history, a visit to the excellent Latvian War Museum is recommended. On November 8, 2024, immediately after the lighting of a memorial bonfire of the War of Independence, the Latvian War Museum will open a new "Heroic Story" exhibition, where for the first time in the history of the War Museum, all three classes of the Order of Lāčplēsis medal will be publicly visible in one place.
