SUMMER SOLSTICE

AT THE JANIS HILL OF TURAIDA MUSEUM RESERVE  /  JUNE 21 / 2014

POWER OF COUPLE - SUPER POWER OF LIGHT

Summer solstice or Jāņi is the celebration of the longest day and shortest night of the year. Jāņi are a somewhat mystic event, as, according to ancient traditions, you have to search for the Legendary fern blossom, wash your face in the grass`s morning dew, and gather herbal plants, which are said to have a special power midsummer. Summer Solstice celebrations date back centuries, when Europeans actively practiced the cult of the Sun. Bonfires and other rituals are not only part of annual traditional celebrations, but also manifest the unity of Cosmic and Earth order.*

19:00 GRASS EVENING WISDOM OF WOMEN making wreaths / making cheese  /  latvian bath tradition / power of herbs WISDOM OF MEN making torches and sun wheels  / making the place for bonfire  /  lighting the fire with a flint  /  beer brewering THEATER FOR KIDS 19.30 performance “Small Janis” BLESSING 20.00 field and courtyard ritual 20.30 household ritual of Janis 20.50 echoing

21:00  SOLSTICE FIRE LIGHTING THE FIRE horn is calling to gather at JanIS hillside  /carrying oak garland up the hill  / lighting the sun and couple bonfires /  sunpath RITUAL OF OAK 22.30 burning of big Janis fire  / games STORYTELLERS FIRE 22.30 lighting the Wisdom bonfire / starting the Vidzeme storytellers’ night LIGHT IN THE DARK 23.30 strengthening the couples  at their bonfire  / singing next to the Sun fireplace 00:00  MIDNIGHT FIREWHEEL 00.00 ritual in middle of the night  /  burning of the old crowns 00.30 horn is inviting  / firewheel BONFIRE OF DANCE 01.00 post folk group IĻĢI playing 02.00 dancing with Dandari NIGHT SINGING 01.00 singing together with Vitolu family next to the Sun fireplace 02.30 jumping over the fireplace 00.30 nght ritual next to Couple fireplace 03:00  THE PATH OF LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE LIGHT horn is inviting up in Janis hill FOUNT RITUALS going to founts MORNING DEW 03.30 mornign dew rituals up in Dainu hill and at the end of Mara path MEETING THE SUN 04.00 meeting the sun next to the scupture “Don’t sleep, the Sun!” FAREWELL 05.00 puttiing the raft in the Gauja river PARTICIPANTS Making wreaths - Daiga Klavina and Margita Poriete, making cheese – Marija Andina and folk group ŪZUĻEŅI, latvian bath tradition – Kaija Brisone, making torches – Raimonds Abele, power of herbs – Zeltite Kaviere, lighting the fire with a flint – Maris Braze , making the place for bonfire - the Kruskopu and the Pavlovsku families,  beer brewering – folk group ŪZUĻEŅI, theater for kids – folk group PUTNI Mens of fire – Eduards and Audars Klints, Sun fire makers – folk group SILAVOTI and Unity of  Balts SUN WAY,  couple fire makers – folk group DELVE,  Wisdom fire makers - the Kruskopu and the Pavlovsku families,  storytellers’ night - Vidzeme region storrytellers,  Janis father and Janis mother – Ugis Mitrevics and Anna Jurkane Night concert - postfolk group IĻĢI  and the VITOLU FAMILY, dances – folk group DANDARI Fount ritual - – folk group SILAVOTI and TALSI, Unity of  Balts SUN WAY, morning dew ritual – Solvita Lodina and Mara Brante, meeting the sun - SILAVOTI / Unity of Balts SUN WAY / Solvita Lodina and the VITOLU FAMILY FOLK GROUPS: SILAVOTI from Riga, DELVE from Vidrizi, PUTNI from Ledurga, SAVIEŠI, BUDĒĻI and DANDARI from Riga, TALSI from Talsi, TREJTEKA from Lauciena, RUDZUPUĶE from Launkalne,     SENLEJA from Sigulda, LAUKAM PĀRI from Ceraukste, ŪZUĻEŅI  from Ozolmuiza, VĪTERI  from Rezekne, MEŽĀBELE from Jerceni INFO: 29541105 / 26572142 ORGANIZERS: www.marasloks.lv  /  www.turaida-muzejs.lv  /  www.sigulda.lv *www.latvia.trevel/en