Holidays in Latvia

16 dates are officially declared festive, state and municipal institutions do not work these days, public transport switches to a special work schedule ^[2] . In the event that on May 4 or November 18 fall on Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is declared non-working ^[1] .

• January 1 - New Year ( Latvian. Jaungada diena ) .
• Great (Good) Friday ( Latvian: Lielā piektdiena ) ; first and second day of Easter ( Latvian. Pirmā Lieldienas un otrās Lieldienas dienas ) .
• May 1 - Labor Day ( Latvian. Darba svētki ) , Convening Day of the Constituent Assembly of Latvia ( Latvian. Latvijas Republikas Satversmes sapulces sasaukšanas diena ) .
• May 4 - Independence Day of the Republic of Latvia ( Latvian. Latvijas Republikas neatkarības atjaunošanas diena ) .
• The second Sunday of May is Mother's Day ( Latvian. Mātes diena ) .
• Holy Trinity Day ( Latvian. Vasarsvētki ) .
• June 23-24 - Ligo ( Latvian. Līgo diena ) and Jan's Day ( Latvian. Jāņi ) - the summer solstice . The widespread celebration of Ligo did not stop during the USSR ^[3] .
• The final day of the Song and Dance Festival ( Latvian. Vispārējo latviešu Dziesmu un deju svētku Noslēguma diena ) .
• November 18 - Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia ( Latvian. Latvijas Republikas Proklamēšanas diena ) .
• December 24-26 - Christmas ( Latvian. Ziemassvētki ) .
• December 31 - seeing off the Old Year ( Latvian. Vecgada diena ) .

It is indicated that Orthodox Christians , Old Believers and Christians of other faiths celebrate Easter, Trinity and Christmas on the days established by their denomination ^[1] .

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  Laying flowers at the Freedom Monument on May 4 , 2015

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  Song and Dance Festival , 2008

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  The Diet devoted to the anniversary of independence, 2015

26 days have the status of memorable and celebrated ^[1] .

• January 20 - Memorial Day for the Defenders of the Barricades of 1991 ( Latvian. 1991. gada barikāžu aizstāvju atceres diena ) .

Established in honor of citizens shot by the Riga OMON during the events of 1991 , when barricades were erected in Riga in protest against clashes between authorities and supporters of independence from the USSR in Vilnius.

• January 26 - Day of international recognition of the Republic of Latvia de jure .
• March 8 - International Women's Day ( Latvian. Starptautiskā sieviešu diena ) .

Celebrated in honor of the demonstration, in which 15 thousand New York women demanded equal working conditions and pay for men and women.

• March 25 - Memorial Day for the victims of the communist genocide ( Latvian. Komunistiskā genocīda upuru piemiņas diena ) .

In March 1949, the Soviet authorities deported more than 90,000 people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Siberia and remote areas of the North.

• May 8 - Victory Day over Nazism and Memorial Day for the victims of World War II ( Latvian. Nacisma sagrāves diena un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena ) .

Date of entry into force of the German Surrender Act .

• May 9 - Day of Europe ( Latvian. Eiropas diena ) .

Celebrated in honor of the Schumann Declaration on the unification of the heavy industry of France and West Germany, which became the harbinger of the creation of the European Union .

• May 15 - International Day of Families ( Latvian. Starptautiskā ģimenes diena ) .

Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993.

• May 17 - Day of the firefighter and rescuer ( Latvian. Ugunsdzēsēju un glābēju diena ) .
• June 1 - International Children's Day ( Latvian. Starptautiskā bērnu aizsardzības diena ) .

• June 14 - Memorial Day for the victims of communist terror ( Latvian. Komunistiskā genocīda upuru piemiņas diena ) .

It is noted in memory of the events of 1941, when from 200 to 300 thousand people were deported by the Soviet authorities.

• June 17 - Occupation Day of the Republic of Latvia ( Latvian. Latvijas Republikas okupācijas diena ) .

On June 17, 1940, units of the Red Army entered Latvia.

• The third Sunday of June is the Day of the Medical Worker ( Latvian: Medicīnas darbinieku diena ) .

Established by decree of the Presidium of the USSR in 1980.

• June 22 - Heroes' Day (commemoration of the Battle of Cesis ), ( Latvian. Varoņu piemiņas diena (Cēsu kaujas atceres diena) ) .

The battle of Cesis in 1919 led to the overthrow of the pro-German government of Latvia by the combined forces of the Estonian and South Latvian armies.

• July 4 - Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Jewish Genocide ( Latvian: Ebreju tautas genocīda upuru piemiņas diena ) .

Latvia was the first republic of the USSR to establish a Holocaust remembrance day ^[4] .

• The second Sunday of July is the Sea Festival ( Latvian: Jūras svētku diena ) .

A professional holiday for sailors , fishermen and all people whose work is connected with the sea .

• August 11 - Memorial Day of the freedom fighters of Latvia ( Latvian. Latvijas brīvības cīnītāju piemiņas diena ) .

Celebrated on the day the peace treaty is signed between Latvia and Soviet Russia.

• August 21 - Day of adoption of the law “On the Sovereignty of the Republic of Latvia” ( Latvian Konstitucionālā likuma “Par Latvijas Republikas valstisko statusu” pieņemšanas diena ) .

The event took place on August 21, 1991.

• August 23 - Memorial Day for the victims of Stalinism and Nazism ( Latvian. Staļinisma un nacisma upuru atceres diena ) .

Together with the European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, it is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact .

• September 1 - Day of Knowledge ( Latvian. Zinību diena ) .

First introduced by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR in 1984.

• Second Sunday of September - Father's Day ( Latvian: Tēva diena )

Unlike most countries of the world celebrating Father's Day on the second Sunday of July, in Latvia the celebration is scheduled for September.

• September 22 - ( Latvian. Baltu vienības diena ) .

Celebrated on the day of the battle of Saul in 1236.

• October 1 - International Day of Older Persons ( Latvian. Starptautiskā senioru diena ) .

The holiday was introduced by the UN in 1990.

• The first Sunday of October is Teacher's Day ( Latvian. Skolotāju diena ) .

Does not coincide with the World Teacher’s Day , set for October 5th.

• November 7 - Day of the border guard ( Latvian. Robežsargu diena )

Unlike most countries of the former USSR, it is not set for May 28.

• November 11 - Lachplesis Day ( Latvian. Lāčplēša diena ) .

Remembrance Day for the liberation of Latvia; It is named after the national hero Lachplesis and is celebrated on the day of victory over the Western Volunteer Army .

• December 5 - Day of the police officer ( Latvian. Policijas darbinieku diena ) .

In the first edition ( Latvian: Par svētku un atceres dienām ) , repealing the effect of Law No. 47 of 1989 of the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR , a different list of holidays and memorial dates was established ^[5] .

• January 1 - New Year.
• Great (Good) Friday and the first day of Easter.
• May 1 - Labor Day, Convocation Day of the Latvian Constitutional Assembly.
• The second Sunday of May is Mother's Day.
• June 23 is Ligo Day.
• June 24 - Jan Day (summer solstice).
• November 18 - Day of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia.
• December 25 and 26 - Christmas.
• December 31 - Seeing off the Old Year.

There were six days of remembrance ^[5] :

• March 25 - Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Communist Terror ( Latvian. Komunistiskā terora upuru piemiņas diena ) .
• May 4 - The signing day of the in 1990 ( Latvian. Latvijas Republikas Neatkarības deklarācijas pasludināšanas diena ) .
• May 9 - Memorial Day for the victims of the Second World War ( Latvian. Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena ) .
• June 14 - Memorial Day for the Victims of Communist Terror ( Latvian. Komunistiskā terora upuru piemiņas diena ) .
• July 4 - Day of Remembrance of the Jewish Genocide ( Latvian: Ebreju tautas genocīda piemiņas diena ) .
• November 11 - Lachplechis Day ( Latvian. Lāčplēša diena ) .

Non-working days were declared January 1, Good Friday, May 1, June 23-24, November 18, December 25-26, and December 31 ^[5] .

In 1995, the celebration of May 9, “Day of Remembrance of the Victims of World War II” ( Latvian. Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena ) was replaced by May 8 with the wording “Day of Victory over Nazism and Memory of the Victims of World War II” ( Latvian. Nacisma sagrāves diena un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena ) ^[6] .

In 1997, the second day was added to Easter, and instead of May 8, the holiday of May 9 was introduced - "Europe Day" ( Latvian: Eiropas diena ) ^[7] . In the same year, an amendment entered into force that added to the list of memorable dates on January 20 (Memorial Day for the Defenders of the Barricades of 1991) ^[8] .

The 1998 amendments introduced a memorial date on March 16 ( Memorial Day of the Latvian military ), the first Sunday of December - Memorial Day for the victims of the communist genocide. In the name of the memorial day on June 14, the words "... communist terror" were replaced by "... communist genocide", and on July 4 ("Memorial Day of the Jewish People") was renamed Memorial Day of the victims of the Jewish people ^[9] .

In 2000, the memorial date of March 16 was removed from the law on holidays ^[10] . Later that same year, commemorative dates appeared on June 17 (Day of Occupation of the Republic of Latvia) and September 22 (Day of Baltic Unity) ^[11] .

In 2002, the holiday of May 4 (Day of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia), memorable dates on August 21 (Day of the actual restoration of independence) and September 1 (Day of Knowledge) appeared. The phrase “celebrated days” ( Latvian atzīmējama diena ) is added to the name of the law to “holidays” and “memory days” ^[12] .

In 2007, Christmas Eve - December 24 - entered the list of holidays along with March 8 (International Women's Day), May 15 (International Family Day), June 1 (International Children's Day), the second Sunday of July (Sea Holiday) and the first Sunday of October (Teacher's Day). A clarification has also been added on the postponement of the day off on Monday if May 4 or November 18 falls on Saturday or Sunday ^[12] .

An amendment adopted in July 2009 added to the list of memory days on August 23 (Memorial Day for the victims of Stalinism and Nazism) ^[13] . In September of the same year, the second Sunday of September (Father's Day) and October 1 (International Day of Older Persons) were added ^[14] .

On May 4, 2011 was renamed from “The Day of Signing the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia” to “Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia”, the celebrated days of May 17 (Day of Firefighter and Rescuer) and the third Sunday of June (Day of Medical Worker) appeared. May 4 was renamed the "Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia" ^[15] .

In 2014, the description of the holiday on June 24 was supplemented with the words “closing the Song and Dance Festival” and also became the third day when the day off is postponed to Monday if this holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday ^[16] .

In 2015, November 7 (Border Guard Day) and December 5 (Police Day) were added to the list of celebrated days ^[17] .

• Riga Tourism Development Bureau. Officially celebrated days (Russian) . Meet Riga. Date of treatment February 13, 2016.
• Par svētku, atceres un atzīmējamām dienām (Latvian) (inaccessible link) . Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia (October 3, 1990). Date of treatment February 13, 2016. Archived July 3, 2016.
• Guntis Ulmanis . Grozījums likumā "Par svētku un atceres dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (April 13, 1995). Date of treatment February 13, 2016.
• Guntis Ulmanis . Grozījums likumā "Par svētku un atceres dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (December 18, 1996). Date of treatment February 13, 2016.
• Guntis Ulmanis . Grozījums likumā "Par svētku un atceres dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (January 27, 1997). Date of treatment February 15, 2016.
• Guntis Ulmanis . Grozījums likumā "Par svētku un atceres dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (June 17, 1998). Date of treatment February 15, 2016.
• Vaira Vike-Freiberga . Grozījums likumā "Par svētku un atceres dienām" (Latvian) . The Saeima of Latvia (March 8, 2000). Date of treatment February 15, 2016.
• Vaira Vike-Freiberga . Grozījums likumā "Par svētku un atceres dienām" (Latvian) . The Saeima of Latvia (June 1, 2000). Date of treatment February 15, 2016.
• . Grozījums likumā "Par svētku un atceres dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (March 21, 2002). Date of treatment February 13, 2016.
• Indulis Emsis . Grozījumi likumā "Par svētku, atceres un atzīmējamām dienām" (Latvian) . The Saeima of Latvia (May 14, 2007). Date of treatment February 13, 2016.
• Gundars Daudze . Grozījumi likumā "Par svētku, atceres un atzīmējamām dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (July 21, 2009). Date of treatment February 15, 2016.
• Valdis Zatlers . Grozījumi likumā "Par svētku, atceres un atzīmējamām dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (September 30, 2009). Date of treatment February 15, 2016.
• Valdis Zatlers . Grozījumi likumā "Par svētku, atceres un atzīmējamām dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (April 1, 2011). Date of treatment February 13, 2016.
• Andris Berzins . Grozījumi likumā "Par svētku, atceres un atzīmējamām dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (October 8, 2014). Date of treatment February 15, 2016.
• Inara Murniece . Grozījumi likumā "Par svētku, atceres un atzīmējamām dienām" (Latvian) . Saeima of Latvia (October 22, 2015). Date of treatment February 16, 2016.
• Kampars P.P. , Zakovy M.M. Soviet civil ceremonies (rus.) . - Thought, 1967 .-- S. 101.
• Radio Liberty Monitoring , RFE / RL inc. Baltic press digest (Russian) . - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 1990 .-- S. 56.