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 – 21.00 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 GAMES and PLAYS FOR KIDS BLESSING 19.30 – 20.00 - field and courtyard ritual 20.00 – 20.30 - household ritual of Janis 20.30 – 21.00 - echoing 21.00 – 23.00 SOLSTICE FIRE LIGHTING THE FIRE horn is calling to gather at JĀNIS hillside  /carrying oak garland up the hill  / lighting the Sun and Mother of Earth bonfires 22.30 burning of big Janis fire  / games LIGHT IN THE DARK 23.30 – 00.00 singing next to the Sun fireplace 00.00 – 01.00 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 and OGRES DANČU KLUBS and SUDMALIŅAS from Valka 01.00 – 03.00 NIGHT SINGING 01.00 – 02.30 singing together with folkore group PĒRLIS from Druviena to the Sun fireplace/ singing together with folkore groups to the Mother of Earth bonfire 02.30 – 03.00jumping over the fireplace 03.00  - 04.45 THE PATH OF LIGHT horn is inviting up in Janis hill/ FOUNT RITUALS/ going to founts MORNING DEW 03.30 - 04.00 mornign dew rituals up in Dainu hill and at the end of Mara path 04.00 – 04.45 MEETING THE SUN next to the scupture “Don’t sleep, the Sun!” 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, beer brewering – folk group ŪZUĻEŅI Mens of fire – Eduards and Audars Klints, Sun fire makers – folk group SILAVOTI,   DELVE, dances – folklore group RĪGAS DANČU KLUBS and OGRES DANČU KLUBS Fount ritual – – folk group SILAVOTI, morning dew ritual and meeting the sun – folklore groupS ORE and MEŽĀBELE FOLK GROUPS:   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, SUDMALIŅAS and NĀBURGI from Valka, SILAVOTI from Riga, INFO: +371 29384512 MEDICAL AID ON SPOT: + 371 29124807 ORGANIZERS: www.marasloks.lv  /  www.turaida-muzejs.lv  /  www.sigulda.lv