A Brit in Search of A Pagan Adventure - Ligo and Jani in Latvia 🇱🇻
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- A Brit in Search of A Pagan Adventure - Ligo and Jani in Latvia 🇱🇻
Join me as we go in search of some ancient Pagan traditions in Ragaciems Latvia.
After taking care of appearances and doing my best to blend in, we set out to find authentic Pagan festivities and we succeeded beyond our expectations.
Latvians take their Pagan heritage seriously and on this journey we meet some locals that share their traditions with us.
If you enjoy adventure videos from the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe, then grab your vodka, some zakusky and join me as we go in search or a Pagan celebration on the Ligo and Jani Holiday in Ragaciems Latvian.
Thank you to all my RUclips Members and Patreons for your support and for helping make this channel what it is!
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For Latvians, Ligo means more than just drinking. Fire means the sun. We celebrate the sun and the light. Yes, we eat meat, drink beer, we eat cumin cheese, dance and sing. Tradition - at midnight the young couple goes to look for a fern flower (make love). It symbolizes fertility, not only for women but for all nature.
Baby’s born around March 20-25 are called Ligo children.
Jump over the bonfire. It symbolizes health.
Amazing! Thank you for the information👌
Caraway cheese
BTW Latvians never fully adopted christianity - we just pretended to adopt it. It's always like that - dumber people try to teach smarter ones how to live - and if we cant win by force - we adapt.
Līgo celebration is a term popularized during Soviet time, probably because Jāņi (Jānis in plural, or the [St.] Johns in Enlish) had a Christian connotation (they tried to take over pagan rituals and make their own versions).
The 23rd (this is actually not the shortest night, but 21st-22nd - another Christian change) is called Jāņu vakars (Jānis Eve), the 24th is Jāņu diena (Day). The 25th would be 2nd Jāņi.
Līgo means sway or rock, which is probably what people are doing when singing all night. Thus all(?) Jāņi songs have līgo in the refrain (but you of coursedon't sing just those songs). The female name Līga is probably derived from that word, and the nameday is the 23rd.
Despite what you might see now, shashlik is not a traditional Jāņi staple (also a Soviet tradition), but pīrāgi and jāņu siers (caraway seed cheese).
Beer (if possible - home brewed) is mandatory, ganja is definitely not tradition!
The male oak leaf wreaths are mostly made and presented to the host and all Jānises present, and everybody else can make their own.
Female wreaths are made of (mostly meadow) flowers, Latvians are born florists.
The wreaths are often dried and thrown into next year's bonfire.
Although many people now piput on radio/youtube/spotify with schlagers or something more pop culture, Latvians traditionally sang all night long, some can do that without repeating even one song.
I have also attended super old traditional celebrations where you sing to different trees and animals.
Traditional dancing and games are often done at larger celebrations, so this was fairly traditional.
One thing that is often skipped is the pūdele. This is essentially a mini bonfire in a barrel of sorts (to contain it), on a high pole (4+m).
The "barrel" is often improvised with logs nailed into a wooden bottom and fixed with wires around, and it takes a few people to raise it, so perhaps that's why most people don't bother anymore. But it looks great, and you can see it from afar.
Funny that nobody mentioned a very specific "ritual" - searching for the fern flower.
Jāņi is also a fertility festival, so the Latvians use this as an excuse more for promiscuous activities.
You can check wiki if the fern actually blossoms....
After the kids have gone to sleep, you might even hear some nerātnās dainas - naughty songs with more or less explicit content.
So - Jāņi is basically Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll!
Thanks for the information… Super interesting and fun!🤩
Aw, I miss those white summer nights. Honestly, Jāņi were my favourite holidays when I lived in Latvia. I enjoyed sitting by the fire all night and waiting for the morning. I almost “religiously” didn’t go to sleep even when everyone else finally gave in 😀 Kept that fire alive and enjoyed the peaceful summer nights outdoors. I’m definitely not pagan but just love that connection with nature. Glad you got to enjoy it, Justin!
I agree… watching the fire is very fun! I’m glad the video brought back some great memories for you🤩
This celebration is worth to be known globally 😍
So cool 😎 This year I celebrated Līgo/ Jāņi in Lutterworth even forgot how it is to celebrate solstice 😀It was an amazing experience with more then 4,000 Latvians. Hope you enjoyed!
I agree… such a fun experience! I’m glad you enjoyed it👍😁
Drinks on the train with Yuri, fantastic 👌
👌🍻
Great stuff Justin! Keep doing that :) Cheers from Poland!
Thank you my friend, so happy you enjoyed it!
At 20min 30sec i found You captured my ex teacher with family and she is not even living in Tukums. :) Now im living in UK. :)
I always enjoy watching videos about Latvia mostly because I moved to England a long time ago
Enjoy my friend!!!
Great video mate, I didn’t even know that Latvia celebrate midsummer.
Love the hat!
Keep up the good work.
Cheers Mark!!! Drone there would have been amazing!!!
@@J.E.E definitely! Looked like a beautiful beach
Great video Justin, loved every minute of it. You done a great job showing the celebration 👍
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed watching the celebrations!👍👌
About vikings. Latvians from Kurzeme(coronians/kurshi) went on raids themselves.
Interesting. Thanks for showing us the Latvian culture
Thanks for watching!👍
Well, where does one start. First of all, thank you for celebrating with Latvians- it is a big deal. Being in Riga what you don't see is the prepeartion.
Two days before Jani, prepeartion includes marinading meat (shashliki) and making Janu cheese (with caraway seeds). Shashliki is marinated diced meat that is cooked on fire and not kebab, what is minced meat slowcooked. If you cook diced meat at home (indoors) it's not shashliki. Meat is only called shashliki when cooked outside on live fire.
On the of Jani, preparation is the vainagi (not va naki) (the head thingy you are wearing).
The oak branch one is usually worn by Janis (boys and man whose name is Janis), but all girls wear the flower vainagi. To prepare vainagi, people go in forests and fields to collect the branches and flowers. Flowers and tree branches are also used to decorate the house and each tree or bush has it's meaning and protective power.
There is also other cooking going on, all to keep you up and busy for about 40hrs, to celebrate the shortest night and longest day; the light and the sun.
min 18:58 Oira- just a sound, nothing else. For one to truly understand and appreciate the Latvian tradition, needs to also be aware that Latvians have a lot of sounds for action. We say it's just a sound because it's a sound for an action. It doesn't follow any grammatical rules, it's a sound you make to an action. Like a wave when it hits rocks, like the wind when it touches tree leaves- it's just a sound, but yet it's much more. It's more, because it triggers more senses in your brain. It's not only an action, it's also a sound- for you to memorise the action. So next time when you hear that sound, your brain brings up the motion. For modern western society there is one sound that brings action to your head- when a human says "ouch". That sounds triggers your brain and your body responds. The same way Latvians have words for many different actions. We know what those words mean, we know what it triggers is our minds and what actions our bodies recognise.
great tradition.very intresting,
in bulgaria we have very similar holiday called sirni zagovezni also jumping over fire and of corse tons of BBQ,ancient traditions must be preserved 🍻
Agreed! Keeping traditions alive is important and fun…😀 Will have to check that out one day👍
@@J.E.E
we have a lot of traditions that you will like. if I can I will suggest a few because there are many, most of them are thousands of years old, the most epic and the most amazing ones that we keep are these-
men's ice dance in kalofer- m.ruclips.net/video/_JhqTHUJAbs/видео.html
the nestinari fire dance -m.ruclips.net/video/BJBTtjXyyQ8/видео.html
and the National folklore costume festival in jeravna(you can't enter without Bulgarian traditional costume!!) -m.ruclips.net/video/7p0Y-ED2CgE/видео.html
Love it Justin!!!keep it going, your Latvian language is getting so much better my friend!!! Keep it up!!!
Love from Bristol 🤩
Thank you my friend! I’m glad you enjoyed the video🙂👍
Omg what a lovely video. I love this holiday so much and miss it a lot. I know there is a big celebration organised in uk as well, can’t remember where about. This Ukranian women made me cry. When she found out you are from England she hugged you and said we are all together.
I also liked the guy on the train. He was drunk, but it just showed how warm and generous people in reality are in Latvia, despites they look very reserved at first.
If you still in Latvia then you should visit Kuldiga on 23 July or Ventspils on 5 August there will be celebration for those city's but try to book hotel or apartment early because those city's are full of tourists on those day's oh and there's bike meet in Ventspils this Saturday
We have similar mid summer celebration here in Finland called "juhannus", where people just get hammered for 3 days straight for no particular reason. Well there is the mid summer reason but thats about it.. its fun though, people go to cabins and in the woods also like in Latvia.
Lithuania was the last pagan state in Europe.By the 13th Century, modern-day Estonia and Latvia were overrun and forcibly converted by crusaders, but the Lithuanians successfully resisted their attacks. Eventually, the state became Christian of its own accord: Grand Duke Jogaila converted to Catholicism in 1386 in order to marry the Queen of Poland.
Thank you mate for clarifying!!! 👍👌
give the historical records? how can some crusaders force people to have faith?
dont spread lies. he didnt just convert to marry a Polish queen,. and lithuanians preserved their catholic faith in the times of pagan persecution of christians, . forced them to leave catholism for orthodoxy under Russian Tsar influence, . lithuanians were forced to protestinism, . and lithuanians were forced to become crazy athiests by communists. but lithuanians were able to preserve their catholic faith amid all the persecutions
@@finncollins5696 Why we would trust YOUR lies? When are you going to present YOUR records?
@@fidenemini111 what? it's the history says it. even before those countries officially converted to christianity, there were many christian converts, who were often persecuted and killed for their faith. you need records.. go and check wikipedia,. and we have Polish and Lithuanain saints since the 5 th century..
What a decent rave hat mate xD
Cheers mate👍😂
Justin, this is the second time I hear your phone’s ring tone, which is the same as mine🙂, once I heard it in your video from Bulgaria. Makes me run for my phone and answer it, 🙂😊🙂
🤣🤣👌
Hi Justin, I’ve just received your gift. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise it was! ☺️ I believe the location where it was sent from is hidden in this Ligo vlog.☺️ I’ve seen your Bulgarian vlog where you have mentioned about шарена сол and I got so inspired and I was about to order it somewhere on ebay. It is soooo fragrant and rich. I love these kind of seasonings. Other little gifts are soooo gooood too!!!! Thank you so much Justin!!! I do remember you miss British cheddar cheese. This’s something I can bring you when I’ll be travelling back home to Riga next time! ☺️
Hi Inga,
I am so happy you finally recieved the package, sorry for the delay but I have been super busy with the channel.
Good spy work, you are right about the l9cation.
Toast, olive oil and Sharia sol is amazing... let me know how you like it.
It is so kind of you to offer the cheese!!! Nothing like good old mature cheddar 😋
Thank you so much for watching and supporting the channel.
I’ve made salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, quinoa and I have used Bulgarian шарина сол. Quite simple but absolutely divine!!!!!!! Until you’ve introduced me шарина сол I have used Georgian сванская соль which is also mega fragrant and rich.
Fun times in a video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for joining the celebration!🙂
Great video again Justin, remember , when on your journey if you want to get ahead get a hat !
😂😂😂 So Happy you liked it Paul!!!
Happy Līgo & Jani day, precious Latvians! Sorry for botching this. Thank you so much, Justin! I really enjoyed this more than I can say! My dearest Mom is from Latvia (living in Texas our whole lives) I ran across your cool video as I was looking for something on Līgo & Jani! I’m excited to share this with her & she will sing all these great songs! 😂 Really waaaay cool! You make a great Jani & good sport with that huge wreath! Thank you again!
Hello Mike and thank you for taking the time to write such a kind comment.
I get many messages for Latvians that grew up in the USA and other countries and it is always a pleasure to see that the culture, history and pride is still there!!! Well done👍
I hope your mom enjoyed the video and I was able to bring her a little of the festive feel you get in Latvia during this amazing holiday.
Please stay tuned for plenty more fun videos and thanks again for watching mate👃
Just packing to fly out for Ligo on Saturday, so great timing to see the video! Inspiring and informative as always but none more well timed that this one! Thanks
Introducing christianity in the pagan lands wasn't easy and peaceful sometimes. So bishops allowed to merge some pagan traditions with the newly introduced confession to make their job done anyhow. Even in Poland many old pagan customs remain untouched, for instance Polish Christmas Eve originally was a day (the shortest day of the year) devoted to reconciliation with the nature. Till now we do not eat this day anything which comes from animals (excluding fish) though The RC Church doesn't forbid it.
the RC church does forbit it.
Interesting… Thank you for sharing!👌
@@finncollins5696 Rubbish! The Pope John Paul the II said, that eating meat at Christmas Eve is not a sin (but he fully supported old Polish tradition).
Fabulous! Could you do a blog on Latvian sauna culture please? Ta best!
People were looking at u for sure lol!!
I felt like a right Charlie on the train😋
@@J.E.E ahahahah
Thank You, Justin. This is nice.
Thank you Mikus... I am happy you liked it!
A good way how to spread the enlglish language in Latvia.
The Russian guy on the train who (of course) didn't speak a lick of Latvian - you most definitely shouldn't drink on the train and it most definitely would get you kicked off. However, seeing as it was Līgo (and you being a foreigner), most conductors would've probably let it slide, as long as you're not blindly drunk and annoying to the other passengers.
If people dink on the train, where would they rest their drink? On the floor, of course. And, as soon as the train jerks forwards and back, your drink would inevitably topple and spill. And the entire train car would reek of booze. How do I know that? I've been that guy myself =P
Ragaciems is two words together. "Rags" means horn, "ciems" means village. So, something like Hornville. Or, if you prefer - the horny village ;D
Brilliant beaches there, much less populated and way cleaner than in Jūrmala. My favorite beach/fishing village in the entire country.
Oh and Justin? We didn't embrace Christianity, it was forced upon us, same with Estonia. The only one where the word "embrace" might be appropriate, I repeat, MIGHT be, is Lithuania. Their king, or rather, high lord, was a wise man who could see the writing on the wall. He realized he could either fight the Catholic or the Orthodox invaders, or most likely, both. So he made an alliance with Poland and married their queen (who can blame him, Polish ladies are no more and no less than stunning), uniting both countries in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and formally let himself be baptized, along with his vassals. Though in reality, people still worshiped their own gods up until at least 17th century. Which is why today most Lithuanians would call themselves Catholic, while Latvians and Estonians are supposedly Lutheran/Protestant on paper, when in reality the vast majority of both nations is atheist.
There is at least one village in Kurzeme, the Western part of Latvia, where an actual ancient sacred grove still exists today. It's on the land of a village traditionally inhabited by equally ancient families who managed to keep their status as freemen even during the 800 years of German subjugation when literally everyone else was a serf, a property of their local baron. I would highly recommend NOT to visit that grove, even for Latvians. The place is truly SACRED for those families, and you are not welcome to just barge in there. It's incredibly rare to get invited there even if you're a Latvian through and through, and for a foreigner, those chances are even slimmer. I mean even the locals themselves don't go there unless for a very specific and important reason.
"Caur sudraba birzi gāju,
Ne zariņa nenotraucu."
I walked through a silver grove,
Didn't (dare to) break a twig.
"airõ" in Livonian means "to paddle"
Hello Justin my friend👋😀 I’m going to Gdansk next tuesday😀👍
Hello Petter! Gdansk is one of my favorite cities… i’m sure you’ll love it👍👌
great video justin :)
Glad you enjoyed!!
Looking very fashion 👌 cool holiday for sure!!!
I have my style... In Milan they would shoot me 😂😂😂😂
@@J.E.E lol
I have an old Nokia phone, good to have one Justin case lol!!!
🤣🤣🤣 nice to see when people get it.
Thank you mate👍👌
Most beautiful and dazzling LIGO adventure, I love such festivals where there is bonfire. 💕
Hello mate,
So happy you enjoyed it... It was really a good vibe!
Thank you for watching and the kind comment!👍👌
@@J.E.E thanks for reply buddy I really love LATVIA, RIGA, please keep updating about Riga, it is really beautiful city.
if this is summer and the nights are cold what if its winter
It can get pretty cold in the winter times… the snow is really beautiful!👌
for some reason more people from different countries end up in Latvia.
Light =Līgo - Ligoties is not important Day in the Year, but Jānis is Mountain in worlds centr. Jānis is mans power and womens Energy is En - Ēna - Shadow - Wodash - Voditj. Yes and No together is Yasno - Clean. Ja un Ne - Jauns - auns. Wom EN is Shadow for Man and nothing more.
Thank you very much for your input! 😃👍
That's a lot of BS right there.
You are confusing Latvian traditions with somebody else's.
That's a lot of BS.
Stay away from spreading lies.
Priecīgus to you too mate. 👍
Cheers mate👍
As a Swede, this feels very familiar. :D
Another good one there Justin...!!! Greg G...IN
Thanks! Happy you enjoyed. 👍
Hell yes I enjoyed it Justin…! You do a great job my friend and I’m seeing things I’ve never seen before… Love it!
Thank you for the support and kind words😁
Bulgaria is Ok! 🍾🖤🇯🇲
Cool))))))))))))))))
Never knew people in riga always wear those green hats. Is it for harsh weather conditions there.
And this is what you gathered from the video?!
That's lovely
😂😂
This Yuri guy was a tense moment. Looks like a criminal.
Nujā, krievu brits...Beidz ņirgt par latviešiem, neko labu tev nenovēlu - puskrievs...
Kurā brīdī viņš ņirgājās? Ko tu te gvelz mērgli? Tikai tapēc ka viņš runā vairākās valodās uzreiz nozīmē, ka ir krievs? Tad jau tava jobnutā māte un tēvs arī ir puskrievi. Sullbais liekuli ej ārstēties psihenē.
you dont need to do these. we are in 21 st century....
what exactly?
Why?
Nice conversation in Latvian, I mean Russian, almost the same, 🙂🙂, Balto-Slavic sound.
You joking?
@@ainis232 no
Yiu need to fix your hearing lol
Hi mate, thanks for the kind words. That was actually Latvian, however my accent is so diabolical it probably sounded Russian🤣
Latvian is different from Russian. As different as English from Spanish.