Ziemassvētki

In ancient Latvia, Ziemassvētki ("Winter holiday") was a festival, celebrated on December 24, which was one of the two most important holidays, the other being Jāņi. Ziemassvētki celebrated the birth of Dievs, the highest god of Latvian mythology.

The two weeks before Ziemassvetki are called Veļu laiks, the "season of ghosts."

During the festival, candles are lit for Dieviņš and a fire is kept burning until the end, when its extinguising signals an end to the unhappiness of the previous year. During the ensuing feast, a space at the table is reserved for Ghousts, who was said to arrive on a sleigh. during the feast, certain foods were always eaten: bread, beans, peas, pork and pig snout and feet. Carolers ("Budeļi") went door to door singing songs and eating from many different houses.

Three postage stamps were issued on 3 December 2005 to commemorate this festival.

ee also

*Winter solstice