18. Novembrī... Staro Rīga!

 (The best feeling was walking out of the apartment and seeing EVERYWHERE Latvian flags)

And there went that weekend!  Amazingly emotional, full of great sights and sounds that only added to the wonderful feeling of experiencing Latvia's birthday for the first time IN Rīga.  Simply awesome and I'm at a loss for words.  So, I'll do my best to share with you the celebrations through pictures and videos!

("Mēs mīlam Latviju!" We love Latvija!)

Friday morning, I woke up feeling energized and ready to take on the day.  It was very cloudy, but the air was crisp and winter-ish.  However, everyone kept commenting that this was the first year in a long time that it hadn't already snowed.  I guess other years it's a miserable time drudging through the wet, snowy streets of Rīga trying to participate in everything that is happening- maybe that's also why the streets were so incredibly crowded!  I missed the military parade (although I could hear it from the apartment!), but went to see the flower ceremony at the national monument.  This is a moment when all of the important heads of state, parliament, ambassadors, etc come together and in a long and ceremonious procession place flowers under the national freedom monument.  Military stands at guard, the military band plays patriotic music and the mood is solemn, yet powerfully uniting.  After the officials take their turn at placing their flowers, the rest of us- the public- has the chance to push and fight our way to the monument and pay our respects to our past and whisper a prayer for the future of our country (here's to another 93 years!).

(Playing the national anthem, "Dievs, Svētī Latviju," before the flower procession ceremony)

(Lined up and ready to go!)

(From the back)

 

(Remember to look up)

(Flags, flags, flags!)

After meandering around a bit longer, I got cold and warmed up until the evening was truly to begin!  First on the list was going to the Museum of Occupation for a short concert by the folklore group Vilkači.  One of the original groups that got me excited about folklore and traditions, for sure!  Although not in their full line up, the small and intimate performance set a nice tone for the evening.  In between songs each member talked about what this day means to them- mentioning that it is quite a wonder that we are free to celebrate this day, when only some-odd years ago it was forbidden.  Or that in the near future we'll be celebrating the longest stretch of Latvian independence (since first independence in 1918).  There is a lot to be thankful for.

(Vilkači sing Karā iešu es māmiņa)

After the concert we decided to go experience Staro Rīga (Rīga shines/glows).  This is a full-on light show all around town, with different exhibits, effects and fun things to look at.  Some more successful than others, but overall a great way to spend the chilly night!  Water-fountain shows, light projections on buildings, even the still-being-built national library had pop-up letters that spelled out folk songs!  Here are some of those sights.

(Outside the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia- the lanterns were only for November 18th)

(Looping around to Domu baznīca)

("Sveicu, mana mīļā... Esmu un būšu..." by the President's castle)

(Jūlija, Imanta, Antra outside the President's castle)

(Jūlija, Antra, Madara by the Saeima building)

(Pulvertornis from a different angle...and design.  This was an interactive station, where motion detected sensors would move the icons and play different notes as you waved your hands around.  In result, you heard weird bells, like dissonant Balinese music. Not a fan, but it looked cool.)

(On the 18th was organized a lantern walk through Old Town by one of the more nationalist parties)

(Beautiful ship-lanterns hung throughout Bastejkalns)

(View from the top of Bastejkalns)

(Water fountain show at Vērmaņu dārzs)

(Santa is also a part of Rīgas story)

(Bike to play music and make the characters move faster!)

(Creepy b&w horse movies...)

It's weird not to have Thanksgiving as the calendar-point to mark the beginning of the holiday season, but this weekend definitely put me in a festive mood that I'm ready to start listening to Christmas music... Thinking of everyone back in the States going to ALJA Kongress in D.C. this week and wishing them a productive and joyful time.  Priekā!