Easter celebration

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