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/ lighting the fire with a flint  / beer brewering
THEATER FOR KIDS
19.30 performance “Small Janis”
BLESSING
19.30 field and courtyard ritual
20.00 household ritual of Janis
20.30 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
LIGHT IN THE DARK
23.00 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 – 03.00 dancing with folklore group RĪGAS DANČU KLUBS

NIGHT SINGING
01.00 – 02.30 singing together with Inese Kozuliņa next to the Sun fireplace
02.30 jumping over the 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 – Indra Čekstere and Margita Poriete, making cheese – Marija Andina and folk group ŪZUĻEŅI, latvian bath tradition – Kaija Brisone and Juris Kraucis, making torches – “Roķi”, power of herbs – Zeltite Kaviere, lighting the fire with a flint – Maris Braze,  beer brewering – folk group ŪZUĻEŅI, theater for kids – Baiba un Valdis Vanagi

Mens of fire – Eduards and Audars Klints, Sun fire makers – folk group SILAVOTI,   Janis father and Janis mother – Uģis Mitrevics and Anna Jurkāne

Night concert – INESE KOZULIŅA, dances – folklore group RĪGAS DANČU KLUBS

Fount ritual – – folk group SILAVOTI, morning dew ritual and meeting the sun – folklore group BUDĒĻI

FOLK GROUPS: SILAVOTI from Riga,  BUDĒĻI and RĪGAS DANČU KLUBS from Riga, SENLEJA from Sigulda, LAUKAM PĀRI from Ceraukste, ŪZUĻEŅI  from Ozolmuiža, MEŽĀBELE from Jērcēni, PUTNIS form Jaunlaicene, DZĪNE form Ķoņi, SKANCE form Kauguri, MARE form Bulduri, MEDAINIS form Saldus, OGLĪTE form Ropaži, Lubānas folklore group, Daugmales folklore group, OGRES DANČU KLUBS from Ogre, NĀBURGI from Valka

INFO: +371 29541105
ORGANIZERS: www.marasloks.lv  /  www.turaida-muzejs.lv  /  www.sigulda.lv