Aistija 🇱🇻

This channel has become a lot more inactive over time, in part due to other channels filling this Baltic content niche better. However, for those more interested in Latvian Folklore and even spirituality, please subscribe to https://t.me/dievatzina -🇱🇻

📸 Photography A tranquil lake, somewhere deep in 🇱🇻 Latvia @OfficialBaltija

🗺 Maps A map of the current Latvian dialects created for a 🇱🇻 Latvian Grammar book published in 2021. Source = Latvian Grammar by Andra Kalnača and Ilze Lokmane.

Sticker variations. Remade Interwar poster.

📸 Photography 🇱🇻 A beautiful photograph of a sunset in Saulkrasti, Latvia. Source - Reddit

Dievs, svētī Latviju! // God Bless Latvia! Latvian poster made in the 1930s. Latvian artwork such as this was made by newspapers, others were designed to be postcards or propaganda pieces.

"Mārtiņdiena" (Mārtiņš' day) or more properly called Apkūlības (Bundling), is a Latvian festival which marks the proper beginning of the month of November, and the coming of Winter, on the 10th day of the month. Many of its traditions are Latvian folk 'distortions' of the myth of the Roman soldier Saint Martin, like ritual sacrifices of roosters, predictions of fate, and animal-masked Halloween-esque travels. On one hand this is syncretism, on the other, similar traditions have been witnessed in other dates unrelated to the church ones, both in Latvia and Lithuania. On top of that, such animal idolatry and sacrifice would not be permitted by the church. As shown in the painting, Mārtiņš is an aspect of Pērkons, the Thunderer. The painting is "Mārtiņš" by Jēkabs Bīne. 🇱🇻

Holiday/Observation Lāčplēša Diena / Lāčplēsis day Order of Lāčplēsis / the military parade in 2013 Today is a memorial day for soldiers who fought for the independence of Latvia. Honoring the 743 soldiers that fell in a battle which helped newly formed Latvia immensely. During the 1919 Battle of Rīga during the Latvian Independence War, the Latvians succeeded in defeating the West Russian Volunteer Army - made up of volunteers from Germany and Russia. The formation and observation of this day was spearheaded by Latvian Writer Karlis Skalbe, who compared the force of the Latvian Army against the russian/german army to the spirit of Lāčplēsis (The bearslayer epic which is highly important to Latvian culture.) The constitutional assembly of Latvia soon after the war created the Order of Lāčplēsis to commemorate those who led the Latvian Army to victory. On the 11th of November in 1920 the first awarding ceremony for the order of lāčplēsis was given, Jānis Čakste awarded 288 Knights. Source

Sveicam Lāčplēša dienā! 🇱🇻

Flag of the 5th Zemgale Latvian Rifle Battalion (1915)

Flag of Riga Latvian riflemen Battalion Ansis Cīrulis (1915)

The Judicial Commission of the Saeima conceptually supports amending the Civil Law to make Dievturi clergy eligible to hold legally-binding weddings. On Tuesday, October 18th, the Judicial Commission of the Saeima gave conceptual approval to amendments to the Civil Law that would give Dievturi clergy the right to marry with legal effect. Currently, the marriages performed by Dievturi clergy are not recognized as valid, and must be repeated in the presence of a representative of the registry office, as noted in the draft law annotation. The authors of the draft law emphasize that the amendments are necessary in order to legally arrange the equality of the religion of Latvian Folk Wisdom, Dievturība, which is unique to Latvia only, in its country of origin, providing its clergymen with the right to conclude marriages with legal force, just as it is intended for clergymen of other religions. The amendments must be approved by the Saeima in three more readings to enter into force. The Judicial Commission will ask the Saeima to consider the draft law in its first reading this week - at the 20 October session of the Parliament. https://saeima.lv/lv/aktualitates/saeimas-zinas/31504-dievturu-garidzniekiem-planots-noteikt-tiesibas-laulat-ar-juridisku-speku

🇱🇻 Carnikavas Beach, Latvia

🇱🇹 🇱🇻Happy Baltic Unity Day! Su Baltų Vienybės Diena! Priecīgu Baltu vienības dienu!! 🇱🇻🇱🇹 Today is the day of Baltic Unity. In 2000, both the Seimas of Lithuania and Saeima of Latvia commemorated the battle of Saule (1236) by creating the Baltic Unity Day. The battle is important to the Balts because both pagan Samogitians and Semigallians put aside their differences and united to defeat the Livonian Brothers of the sword. This day is celebrated in different cities every year, and special events and awards are given like the "Balts' Award" which is awarded to those that promote Latvian and Lithuanian languages, literature, and historic research. In 2018 a Latvian-Lithuanian professor and linguist Laimute Balode became the first recipient. Pictures: Kuldīga 2021 event and an event from 2010 on the Salduvė mount in Šiauliai.

Sveicam Baltu vienības dienā, brāļi! Su Baltų vienybės diena, broliai baltai! 🇱🇻🇱🇹