Latvians have the best traditions.
Latvians eat bacon and peas on New Years Eve so that they don't cry in the new year. On Easter, you'll see Latvians swinging on swings so that that they won't be sleepy for the rest of the year. Did you know that bacon buns are key to eternal happiness?
There is one holiday that Latvians celebrate the best: Jāņi or Summer Solstice is the biggest party in Latvia. An all-night event filled with beer drinking, caraway cheese eating, singing, and jumping over bonfires. The party starts in the evening with līgošana (singing) and gathering of neighbors and friends. Women wear wildflower wreaths and men named Jānis (John) wear a wreath made out of oak leaves. As each neighbor is visited, Jāņu bērni (guests) are given homemade beer and caraway cheese. Once all the neighbors are gathered together, all head to a hill where they will build a bonfire. The night is spent singing and jumping over bonfire for luck and to prevent mosquito bites for the year.
On the night of Jāņi, couples sneak into the woods in search for the magical flowering fern (unsurprisingly, Latvia's birth rate spikes 9 months later). Those who find the flowering fern will have a lifetime of incredible luck.
In honor of Latvian traditions, we hope you will join us to eat, drink, sing, dance, and celebrate Jāņi and our marriage.
By the way, Latvians believe that guests should eat rye bread on the way to a wedding so that there is lots of dancing. Not that you'll need it!
