LATS
LATS
are one of the national groups on the territory of the modern Republic of Belarus
(from 1 to 3.5 thousand).
National traits of Latvians:
• individualism;
• desire to rely on yourself;
• restraint;
• tolerance;
• hard work;
• endurance, etc.
During the existence of the Latvian diaspora in Belarus, which now numbers about two thousand Latvians, there were no interethnic conflicts: they shared the same fate with local residents, and in almost every region where there are Latvian settlements, national-cultural societies have been created that try preserve Latvian culture. Place names of Latvian origin on the Belarusian territory are also known: there are villages called Latvians in the Gomel region, Vitebsk, Grodno regions.
THE NATIONAL COSTUME
Latvian folk costume is a complex of various garments. It breaks down into local variants, united in accordance with five cultural-historical or ethnographic regions: Vidzeme, Latgale, Augshzeme, Zemgale and Kurzeme. Perhaps, the versions of the folk costume are based on the clothes of the ancient tribes of the Balts and Baltic Finns (Livs), who once inhabited the territory of Latvia.
The basis of the traditional folk costume is the shirt, which also served as underwear. Women's shirts are usually lengthened to the shins. Outerwear consisted of a skirt, a jacket, a vest, and a shoulder cover (villaine) for women; pants, vest and caftan or half-caftan - for men. Not a single folk costume is complete without a headdress - young girls wore a wreath before marriage, married women - a cap or headscarf; it was less compulsory for men to wear a hat. They wore knitted woolen or thread socks and black low-heeled shoes (in some places original bast shoes - pastes), men wore boots. One or several small brooches were used as fasteners for shirts, for villaine - large brooches (sakts). Woven belts were used to support and decorate clothes.
NATIONAL CUISINE
For a long time, Latvian cuisine has evolved under the influence of various national cuisines: Estonian, Lithuanian, Russian, German and Belarusian. Latvian national cuisine is quite simple and satisfying, based on cereals, meat and fish products.
The everyday food of Latvians is now more focused on European cuisine. In everyday life, locals usually eat cutlets, meat and fish, vegetable salads, and pork ribs. On the other hand, during the national Latvian holidays, traditional dishes of Latvian cuisine appear on the tables.
The main products of the national Latvian cuisine are flour, cereals, beans, peas, potatoes, dairy products and vegetables. And although national dishes are traditionally based on agricultural products, fish dishes also take a large place in Latvian cuisine.
You should definitely try dishes according to traditional Latvian recipes: - homemade cheeses, including the famous Janov cheese, which is made from homemade cottage cheese with the addition of eggs and caraway seeds; - pea and bread soups; - putras. The dish is a gruel of vegetables and cereals with the addition of fish, bacon or smoked meat, as well as fermented milk products; - gray peas with bacon; - silkyu pudins - traditional Latvian herring casserole with boiled potatoes; - boiled potatoes with cottage cheese. To prepare this dish, fatty village cottage cheese is mixed with sour cream, herbs and salt are added to it. This mixture is served in addition to boiled potatoes; - "peasant breakfast" is a traditional Latvian dish. For this dish, smoked loin, boiled potatoes and homemade sausage are poured with an egg-milk mixture and baked in a frying pan; - camaro (chicken stew); - sklandrausis is an open vegetable pie made from rye dough that looks like a cheesecake. For the filling, boiled potatoes, carrots, sour cream and eggs are used; - klops is a steak with onion sauce.
The impression of the national Latvian cuisine will be incomplete if you do not try traditional Latvian drinks, which have a very original taste. Since ancient times, Latvians have been making drinks based on honey, birch and maple sap. Various kissels are still very popular among local residents. Among the national drinks, it is also worth noting rhubarb jelly with whipped cream or milk.
NATIONAL DANCE
Latvians call themselves a singing people and are proud of their long and strong traditions of choral singing and folk dancing. The most ancient origin - games and dances, performed on holidays in honor of meeting or seeing off winter, spring, summer. On Christmas days and during the spring Maslenitsa, the youth of the Latvian countryside has the custom of dressing up and dancing to the sound of bells, to the roar of an improvised orchestra, which, in addition to ordinary folk instruments, also includes household utensils.
Some of the dance figures correspond to common Latvian folk ornaments, for example, the sun, the star, the herringbone / cross. Accordingly, the dancers form a "star", line up in a cross, a square, in four or eight pairs, etc. Such figures, in particular, are found in the dance "Achkups", which is very popular among the people. Latvian folk dances are divided into pair and group dances. Doubles are danced in a circle counterclockwise. In group dances, performers also stand in pairs. Most often, four or eight couples participate in them, in some - three couples. The basic dance movements are not complicated: a simple step, run, jump, gallop, polka, etc. By the nature of the performance, Latvian dances are usually calm, sedate, without abrupt movements, without contrasting, transitions or rhythm changes. The oldest folk musical instrument used to accompany the dance is the kokle, which looks like a gusli. Later, it was replaced by a violin, more powerful in sound. Of the wind instruments that accompanied the dances, the most ancient were tree bark whistles and cow horn pipes. Sometimes home-made noise instruments were used in villages: rattles, pork bladders with peas poured into them. On winter holidays, a Christmas tree appeared - "trideksnis", decorated with ribbons and tinkling plates, the rhythm was beaten by the blows of the tree trunk on the floor.
NATIONAL TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
Latvians are proud of their rich folklore heritage and traditions. An important part of the life of modern Latvians is such vibrant traditions as Janov's Day, Song and Dance Festival, Dainas, ancient mythology, folk costumes and folk dances.
In Latvian folklore, each deity has its own symbol, which protects anyone who wears it, gives it strength and beauty. All the age-old wisdom of the Latvian people is collected in folk songs, and fairy tales and legends tell about the life of their ancestors. The most striking manifestations of ancient traditions are the celebration of the summer solstice - Ligo and Yanov's day, processions of mummers during the winter solstice, the celebration of Meteni (Maslenitsa) in February and the vernal equinox - Easter. The soul of the singing people is best revealed during the Song and Dance Festival, which takes place every five years, delighting the audience with performances of the country's best choirs and exciting choreography of folk dances.
Before Ligo, Christmas and other holidays, fairs are held in large and small towns of Latvia, where traditional crafts are presented - weaving, ceramics, wickerwork, jewelry, wood and metal products. Every three years the international folklore festival "Baltica" takes place in Latvia, dedicated to the folk traditions and customs of the Latvian and neighboring Baltic peoples. Ancient traditions in a modern interpretation can also be seen at the Baltic Sun festival, which is held in honor of the Battle of Saul in 1236 (“saule” means “sun” in Latvian). Latvian traditions reflect not only the way of life and way of life of the people, but also their soul.
WE INVITE ALL WHO WISHES
TO TAKE PART IN THE QUIZ