Celebrating the arrival of spring and despite the not-so-pleasant weather conditions, when the sun alternated with rain and hail every moment, families with children gathered at the Life and Crafts Farm, where various activities were arranged for a joyful celebration of the spring solstice. The courtyard was filled with musical performances, stories about the voices of birds, and there was an opportunity to participate in traditional Latvian springtime games, as well as to work in creative workshops. A special place in the courtyard of the craft farm is set aside for a swing, inviting visitors to swing in the spring and help the sun climb the mountain of heaven.
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Great Day and Easter
“On Easter morning, you have to bring wood shavings into the room, because then they turn into money,” Ilze Vēvere instructed “Zemgales News”, who led the folklore group “Liepāres” and involved the visitors of the event in games and singing traditional spring songs, getting to know the traditions of ancient Latvians. “The Great Day and the Easter we were created to celebrate are two different things. Our ancestors celebrated exactly the spring solstice, or the Great Day, when the day became longer than the night and the sun was at its highest point. During this time, from March 20 to 21, nature wakes up and it is the right time to draw energy from it. On the other hand, we celebrate Easter in connection with the Christian church and the lunar calendar. We make plans and plans for the whole year’s activities on the day of the festival, and we put these thoughts into action on the Great Day so that everything planned will succeed. In Úsiņi, which is also called St. George’s Day, all farm work is done and cattle are allowed to graze,” explains Saiva Drupa, a member of the folklore group “Liepāres”. As on the Great Day, the traditions on Easter are similar. Before sunrise, he bathes in the stream that flows towards the morning. Eat cranberries for beauty and health and, of course, color your eggs. The egg is a symbol of new life, fertility and rebirth. S. Drupa says that the eggs are dyed in the traditional way, using natural materials, usually finely cut onion peels, adding some alder bark for strength. She wishes all Jelgava residents to welcome spring with bright thoughts, to live in harmony with nature and not to forget the traditions of our ancestors.
Great response for making a bird cage
At the event, the most diligent children and adults could participate in the creative workshop and create their own bird cage. This activity received a great response, and those who wanted to were even ready to wait in a long line to be able to prepare the cage. “This annual birdcage masterclass is in high demand. We usually make around 30 cages during one event, and everyone can take it home and install it in their garden or forest. It is an opportunity for children and their parents not only to take care of their winged friends, but also to learn new practical skills. Most people do quite well with nail-biting, and girls tend to try their hand at it too. You can immediately see who has already mastered something at home, because they get it much faster and better,” admits the master class leader, craftsman Lauris Rudzītis from Jelgava region. He also points out that the cages are intended for starlings and should preferably be placed at a height of at least four meters. There is no need to install a perch near the cage run, as this makes it easier for predatory animals and birds to access the baby starlings. Also, the cage must be made of unplaned thick boards.
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“We make bird cages every spring. In previous years, we have participated in Bird Days at the zoo. Then we also made a house for the green crow, but we couldn’t take it with us, it remained at the disposal of the ornithologists. This time we decided to come here and make a cage for starlings, which we will take to the countryside on the Krustpils side,” says the Dagu family from Jelgava. Seven-year-old Ernests participates in making a cage for the first time, but his big sister Sanita already has experience.
Learning to recognize the voices of birds
Baiba Ērgle, a musician and folklorist, helped the youngest visitors of the event to hear the voices of birds, who told about the birds found in Latvian folklore, and also imitated the voices of birds with the help of various folk musical instruments. The listeners enthusiastically competed and tried to remember which birds these voices belonged to. Everyone went to games together and learned new songs. “Today, together with the children, we imitated birds with our mouths and lips, as well as with our hands and traditional instruments. The little ones enjoyed getting to know and compare different musical instruments, such as whistles, violins, woodwinds and the lesser-known ukulele. I am a music teacher by profession, and my work brings me real joy. Children are so different – some are fascinated by making music and singing together, while others prefer to play. “Hawk and chickens” is usually the most favorite of the games,” reveals B. Ārgle.
Top colored eggs
Under the guidance of the hostesses of “Austras naktus”, interested parties could color the eggs they brought with them. For this purpose, the egg was first wrapped in various natural materials – buds, twigs, leaves and other materials – and then boiled in onion skins in a large pot on a wood-burning stove. In order not to mix the eggs, a long string with the name of the maker and the time when it was placed in the pot is attached to each one. How to say, there must be order and nothing can go wrong.
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Nine-year-old Lelde and her mother Ilona have just put the decorated egg to boil, so it’s time for a conversation. Lelde enjoyed decorating cookies and working in the ceramics workshop the best today, but she still has time to make a birdcage. “We are from Jelgava, but we spend a lot of time at our farm in Saldus district. We also usually celebrate Easter there with family and relatives. We paint the eggs and hide them in the garden together with the chocolate eggs. To make it more interesting for children, we draw an egg search map. We also hide Lelde’s favorite quail eggs, which are harder to find. It has happened when the dog finds something hidden only around the Ligo holiday,” says Ilona with a smile. She dyes her eggs in traditional onion skins, but this year she will try to get a more unusual shade using red cabbage and karkade tea. At Easter, the family cannot do without swinging, egg rolling and, of course, egg fights.
Right next to it, in the yard of “Brokastnīca” cafe, everyone could take part in the creative workshop and glaze spring cookies with colorful gingerbread glaze. Some ate the delicious treat immediately after decorating it, while others carefully placed it in a paper bag and took it home with them.
PHOTO: INGRIDA NEUS-LUTZ
The project is co-financed by the Media Support Fund from the funds of the Latvian state budget. “Zemgale News” is responsible for the content SIF_MAF2023
