Easter celebration31.03.202410:00 — 16:00

 

Easter celebration at the Ethnographic Open-air Museum of Latvia will happen this year on March 31st with handicraft and food market, egg coloring and rolling, swinging in big and small swings, folk songs, and dances.

In nature Easter marks the moment, when there is more light than darkness – day becomes big. Increase of light is followed by awakening of nature. Swinging – raising towards Sun – is a symbolic action, which should stimulate awakening and fertility power in nature and human. Sun itself is swinging in Easter morning – “When Sun has risen a bit above horizon, then Sun swings 3 times on both directions, this is the origin of swinging”. Swinging is action, which harmonizes us with nature. It includes movement upwards and downwards. Swing was made by the young men. Masterful placed swing attests masculine power and wisdom.

 

Folk-beliefs mention different gains from swinging – fresh spirit whole summer long, long linen on field and long wool for sheep. Those, who will be swinging, won’t be bitten by mosquitoes and horseflies, but the owners of farmstead and pasture children have to swing, so the cows would be calm. All benefits mentioned come from previous mentioned meanings of swinging and can be gained as a result of increased fertility and harmonizing of the world.

Easter celebration program

Market square
10.00 – 16.00	Easter market
Usma Lutheran church
10.00 – 11.00	Easter service
Meadow by Kurzeme fishermen village
10.00 – 16.00	Egg coloring workshop
	Big and small swings
	Creative workshops for children
	Egg rolling and pasture games
	Orienteering game for families “Hawk eye”
	Search for the rabbit
11.00 – 12.00	Ethnographic Easter traditions with folklore band SKANDINIEKI
12.00 – 12.50	Theatre ZĪĻUKS performance "Bremen Musicians"
13.00 – 13.50	Spring concert. Children and youth dance group CIELAVIŅA from Ropaži.
14.00 – 15.00	Games and dances with folklore band DANDARI of University of Latvia
Exhibition hall
10.00 – 16.00	Exhibition “Beautiful Handicrafts of Tohoku, Japan”