Let’s talk about the substance. What’s wrong with the white tablecloth? Where is the “crime” hiding, because of which it is necessary to take such a strong stand against it? It doesn’t even really make sense to look for the ideational fathers of this term – the white tablecloth holiday – the PR cantors who came up with it, and try to find out what the original meaning of this idea was. It is important to talk about something else in this case. About traditions. Or rather, about their absence.
It is not easy to create and maintain traditions, but they create and maintain the identity of certain communities. For example, celebrating St. John’s Day is an integral part of Latvian national identity. Be that as it may, it has passed and survived through centuries, not to mention thousands of years.
With the traditions of patriotic holidays, we have much more languor. A truly persistent and generally accepted tradition is almost exclusively placing candles in Daugavmala at the wall of Riga Castle and in relevant places of other cities. The torchlight processions in these days of November, or the so-called month of patriots, are gradually becoming like that. Whether the wearing of red and white ribbons on the coat lapel will continue in November is still a question.
In the first decades after independence, November 18 celebrations culminated in fireworks on the November 11 waterfront with uplifting, patriotic music playing in the background. Kovid killed this tradition, and the war in Ukraine, together with the arrival of the post-humanist era, when animal rights are equated with human rights, did not allow this tradition to be revived.
Notice, all these patriotic traditions, such as they are, are associated with November. But what are the traditions surrounding the restoration of independence? A more perceptive reader can immediately ask: exactly with which date of restoration of independence – May 4, 1990 or August 21, 1991?
Here we also come to the first ambiguity. Indeed, several dates are related to the status of national independence in Latvia – November 18, May 4, August 21. Just like with mourning and national days of remembrance. The latter are even difficult to list all. Maybe you don’t need to.
The fact that there are de facto two independence days creates some ambiguity. However, since there are still generations alive who experienced these dates at a conscious age, it is clear that May 4 is an emotionally more saturated and significant day than August 21, although the legal consequences of the latter date are probably more significant.
Be that as it may, it must be admitted that there is almost no socially accepted tradition of celebrating the 4th of May. Such as roast turkey at Thanksgiving in the US or boiling, dyeing and scrambling eggs at Easter. From this point of view, trying to seat May 4th celebrants at white-covered tables is definitely not the worst suggestion. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessfully broadcast to the public, calling the celebration of the restoration of independence a white tablecloth celebration.
A completely natural question arose – what else is the white tablecloth holiday? It is the purest profanation. It is not even a reservation that the day of commemoration of the heroes who died for the freedom of Latvia is not called by this name, but Lāčplēš day, which has no direct verbal connection with the memory of the fallen.
I think that even the most ardent patriots would have no objections if a family tradition was created to celebrate May 4 at a table covered with a white tablecloth. Perhaps because white tablecloths are increasingly leaving the traditions of other holidays as well. Further. A real fabric tablecloth is becoming a rarity in everyday life. Not just white, but anything. Therefore, it would be great if, at least once a year – on May 4 – people would sit down at the festive table, which would be covered with a real, white, festive tablecloth intended for this day.
Unfortunately, this tradition was almost killed before it was born. They whine, sew, get angry about it. But maybe in vain? The meaning and national essence of May 4 will not disappear anywhere. It already has its permanent place in history. Like November 11. Whatever it’s called.
I am sure that if the same ardent patriots, who so actively “fight” against the “white tablecloth holiday” every year, would just as actively call for the introduction of the tradition – on May 4, to sit down with your near and dear ones at a table covered with a white tablecloth, have a holiday meal and raise a glass of wine for the life of the sun for Latvia, then perhaps this tradition would be introduced and it would already have a different, truly patriotic sound.
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