Riga Region Local Customs

  Dragging the Yule log
by MalenaN
 
  • Dragging the Yule log
      Dragging the Yule log
    by MalenaN
  •   Local Customs
    by MalenaN
  •   Local Customs
    by MalenaN
  •   Local Customs
    by MalenaN
  • Padlocks on a bridge railing
      Padlocks on a bridge railing
    by MalenaN
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Latvian artists

by vairab

Latvian opera performers, including Inese Galante, Ingus Petersons, Egîls Silins, Elîna Garanca Sonora Vaice and Inga Kalna are known on opera stages around the world. Pianist Vestards Shimkus won the 2002 international Ferenz Liszt piano competition in Los Angeles. Violinist Baiba Skride took first prize at the Queen Elisabeth competition in Brussels in 2001.The youth choir “Kamer” won top honours at a European choral contest in Goricia in 2004. A play called “The Auditor”, directed by Alvis Hermanis, won the main prize at Salzburg theatre festival that was called the Young Directors Project. Composer Peteris Vasks received the Herder Prize in Vienna in 1996, was nominated for a Grammy in 2004 as Best Classical Music Act, and won the main prize "The Music Record of the Year" at Cannes International Music Fair MIDEM in 2004. Finally, the violinist Gideons Kremers is globally known and a...

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Christmas Market

by LanaFromRiga

Christams Market startes in the first Adventa. Adventa it is a 4 weeks befor Christmas. Christmas Market is not very old tradition, it started on 2001. Here people buying presents for themselves, for relatives and friends, here can find tasty Latvian smoked fishes and smoked meat. In Christmas market you'll find decoration for your house.

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Richard Wagner

by vairab

(1813-1883) Composer. He spent almost two years in Riga between 1837 and 1839 and was the musical director of the Riga German Theatre. In this role he produced over 20 German, Italian and French operas. According to legend, he found the inspiration for “The Flying Dutchman” on the stormy Baltic Sea when he was leaving Riga, when he was in a depressed state of mind due to unpaid debts. The former premises of the German Riga Theatre are now used as a concert hall bearing the Wagner name, and the street on which it is located is also named after him.

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Gilded cocks on churches

by Dabs

Many steeples on Riga churches are topped by gilded cocks. Latvian folklore the cock stands for vigilance and safeguards from evil, when it crows for the third time, the devil must retreat back to hell.The practice of placing a cock on the spire of churches stems from Middle Age Europe, where the cock also had a practical use as a windvane.

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Downtown

by ginte

While walking in the Old Town keep your eyes wide open. You can see lots of unique and interesting things above your head, like for e.g. cat's statue on the roof. Lovely, isn't it? ;-)

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Squares in downtown

by ginte

While walking in a downtown of Riga, I've found many nice squares and buildings with all wall painted. The same thing I saw only in Copenhagen. This way of decorating buildings is quite ineteresting, as these pictures are always painted and gives more colours to the town.

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Some useful Latvian words...

by juliev

During this little one day trip we had a great guide who taught us a bit Latvian, the most needed words ... I tried to thank buying the beer and it worked out :))So ... there some words:good morning - "Labryt"good afternoon - "Labdien"good evening - "Labvakar"thanks - "Paldias" ... and they usually answer - "Lucu" (i guess this means "please")sorry (polite form) - "Atvanojam"let's dance - "Padejokim" (if u want to ask some attractive Latvian guy or girl for a dance)If i'm wrong, plz correct me ... :))

Cultural events in Riga

by Fen

Riga is a major cultural centre with many events taking place throughout the year. Gadatirgus is an annual arts festival in June, focusing on traditional Latvian arts and craft. The Folklore Festival is held in the first week of June, at the Open Air Ethnographic Museum, with explorations into traditional literature and song.The Midsummer Festival causes a mass exodus from the city, as the locals head to the countryside for some serious partying in June. The Riga Summer Festival, in July, brings an array of chamber and symphony orchestra performances at venues throughout the city.

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Try Riga Balsam

by Fen

A traditional Latvian tipple is Riga’s Melnais Balzams or Black Balsam. This is a thick, black alcoholic liquid which supposedly cured Catherine the Great of fever when she visited the country. Nobody knows how it’s made because the Latvians refuse to disclose the recipe but if you are sampling it, try it in your tea or coffee first as it is quite strong. Strangely enough it’s also quite an effective hangover cure which is always good to know after all those bouts of Vodka. :-)

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You've lived in Riga for too long, if... [jokes]

by in4ik

1. You see three cars in front of you, and you think you are in the traffic jam. 2. You are happy that underground parking houses are being built, but you never park your car there. 3. You have your umbrella with you during all the year round. 4. You speak min 3 languages.5. You are not surprised by phrases "horibly cool or ungly beautiful", you actually understand what they are about. 6. You regulary meet members of the Parliament and automatically say hi.7. You saw Raimonds Pauls in slippers and without security guards. 8. You are surprised if your new acquaintant does not have a cell phone. 9. Every year in the end of june you go with your friends to countryside to drink beer with shashlik.10. You are used to spend long time abroad on expalining where Latvia is located. 11. You are very surprised if a foreigner knows where Latvia is situated and knows its capital city! 12. You are...

Local traditions and culture in Riga Region

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159 Hotels in Riga Region
 
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Local Customs: Cities in Riga Region
  1. Riga Local Customs
  2. Salaspils Local Customs

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Questions and Answers

Amalker profile photo

Q:  Sveiki! I need an advice. my departure from Riga airport at 11.30, but bus arrived (internetional, from belarus) only at 8.10.... 

jonellis profile photo

A: You should have no problem. Yes, traffic can be bad, but by 0900 it seems to clear out. I used Municipal bus and as I recall, it took about 30 minutes from the stop near... 

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