Latvian holidays are steeped in ancient pagan tradition. Most important are the winter and summer solstices. Connections with the ancient past are thought to be the most authentic connections with being Latvian. Other major holidays celebrate the hard-won independence and sovereignty of Latvia. Soviet influence, especially as compared to other former Soviet republics, is minimal, […]
As a child, I loved fairy tales, folklore, mythology, and anything that allowed me to escape into other worlds in which I could imagine having power and agency. I have hazy memories of the countless tales I devoured, and a still hazier understanding of how those tales may have played a role in my own […]