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On many bridges in Latvia you will notice a large number of padlocks locked to the fence - this is part of a (mainly) Russian wedding tradition - there's a quite large Russian minority in Latvia, almost 30% of the country's inhabitants are Russian. (In Riga the Russians make up a larger part of the population - ca 45% of the inhabitants of the capital are Russian.)
The just-married couple will lock a padlock to the fence, and together they'll throw the key into the river - as a symbol of the strength and "unbreakable bond" of their marriage. Many of the padlocks have the names of the newlyweds and their wedding date engraved - quite romantic... :o)
The pictures were taken by Bastion Hill, just outside the Old Town of Riga. Leave a Comment
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 by FletteMette
This is not common in Riga, but it isn't unusual at all in other parts of Latvia. (This particular toilet can be found in Cesis...;o) Leave a Comment
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Thatched roofs were once very common in Latvia and the rest of the Baltics - but during the Soviet period use of thatched roofs pretty much disappeared, and the skill of thatching was largely forgotten. You can still see quite a few old houses with thatched roofs, and the number of houses being built in a more traditional style, using this technique, has increased quite rapidly in recent years.
Thatched roofs used to be quite cheap, and in Latvia they were mainly found on little cottages in the countryside... :o) Nowadays these roofs are pretty expensive, but they're supposed to help *balance the indoor climate*, and they're supposed to keep the house pleasantly cool in summer and also warmer in the harsh Latvian winters. Besides, a thatched roof is eco-friendly.
We drove past these *lovely*;o) stacks of straw in Berzciems, a tiny village on the coast between Riga and Kolka. We also noticed a thatched roof being built on a new house nearby - see pic #2. Quite fascinating to watch, and the resulting roofs *are* very charming.... :o) Leave a Comment
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1. Languages: All three national languages are different. Lithuanian and Latvian are related, but Estonian isn’t even in the same language family.
2. Each other: For all the proclamations about joint Baltic cooperation, Balts spend a surprising amount of time ignoring each other. If asked, most Balts would be hard pressed to name a single cultural figure from one of the other Baltics, whereas they could probably name many from Russia or Sweden.
3. History: They share the Soviet occupation in common, but beyond that, their histories have been varied, especially Lithuania’s.
4. Orientation: All three nations tend to look to and be influenced by different regions. Estonians have the best links with Finland and Scandinavia; the Latvians, with the Germans and to a lesser degree with the Scandinavians; and the Lithuanians with the Poles, the rest of Central Europe and also the Americans.
5. Religion: Latvia and Estonia do share Lutheranism, the predominant religion in both countries. But Lithuanians are Catholic, and, as a rule, they also tend to be more religious. Leave a Comment
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 Latvian Costumes by diamond7
Since centuries ago the head covering served to signify the wearer’s marital status. It was unseemly for a married woman to go out bareheaded. On festive occasions, married women used to wear a head-cloth, a practice that continued throughout the centuries. For daily wear, married and unmarried women favoured homespun linen or woollen scarves. Leave a Comment
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 The Latvian flag by diamond7Leave a Comment
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 Fireworks in Riga on 18 of
November 2005 by LanaFromRigaLeave a Comment
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 Ligo night by LanaFromRiga
April 11 - Easter Sunday
May 1 - Labour Day
May 9 - Mother Day (2nd Sunday in May)
June 23-24 - Ligo and Jani (summer solstice)
November 11 - Lachplessis Day
November 18 - The day of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia
December 24-26 Christmas (Ziemassvetki)
December 31 New Year's Eve Leave a Comment
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 cheers by Leipzig
In Latvia I tasted "Utenos" and "Aldaris". I had them on the veranda of the motel near Ainazi. Both were very refreshing and tasty. I didn't stay long enough in Latvia to try all the other brands. Leave a Comment
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 Street Musicians by LeipzigLeave a Comment
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