Latvia

1
(No Transcript)
2
Latvia
culture
3
- Info -
culture
4
- culture -
Latvia is especially influenced by the northern
european culture. The older parts of the cities
present typical elements of the so-called Hanse
territory. The latvian culture also presents alot
of connections to Sweden and Finland, but
especially to the northern german cultural
territory. Most people believe in the protestant,
lutheran religion since the reformation, except
in the mostly catholic Lettgallen. The number of
regular churchgoers is relatively small today,
possibly one of the lowest in Europe. The latvian
lutheran church is very conservative and denies
women the right to become a priest, an opposite
position to the latvian exile-church in Sweden.
Concepts and Songs of the oldlatvian religion
play an important role in folklore. The most
important holiday in Latvia is Jani (the
midsummer festival) on the 23rd of june. Latvia
is especially known for its folkmusic-culture.
About a million of the typical Dainas
non-rhyming songs with 4 lines on all subjects,
ranging from mythology to everyday topics have
been collected, possibly world-first in
comparison to the population. The notation of
these was started by Krijanis Barons in the 19th
century, up until then they were only handed down
verbally. His especially constructed Daina-Closet
now counts as one of the nations relics. Every
five years (during the soviet occupation in other
in countries) songfestivals are heald in Riga,
where thousands of latvians, exile-latvians and
international choirs participate. As with most
small peoples theres a strong feeling of
national identity in Latvia. Similar to Estonia
the city culture and landpossession was in the
hands of german-speaking minorities, up until
their resettlement. The earlier important
jew-yiddish minority doesnt play a role in
todays public sector either. Curiosities Accordin
g to some scientists, the first christmas tree
stood in Latvia, around 1510. Others however
think it was in Strassburg.
culture
5
(No Transcript)
6
dom
7
dom palace
8
roland St. Petri church