Technically, December 14 is a working day in Latvia – to compensate for December 23. Regardless of whether you’ll be at work or not, here are a few Christmas-themed tips for you.
The Latvian Radio Choir’s program Christmas in France will bring together 20th-century French sacred choral music with the colorful impressionism and elegance of chamber music found in the instrumental works of Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Eugene Bozza. They will be performed by saxophonist Aigars Raumanis and organist Aigars Reinis. Conductor: Sigvards Kļava.
The concert takes place at the Rīga Lutheran Evangelical Church (Torņakalna Street 3), on Friday, December 13, 19:00. More information on Facebook.
Saturday, December 14, will see an interesting combo joining forces: he youth choir MASKA, legendary rock band Pērkons and vocal group Cosmos. MASKA will perform the rock songs by Pērkons in a cappella arrangements, whereas the Cosmos songs will be given a new choir sound.
The concert takes place December 14 at 19:00 at the Dzintari Concert Hall in Jūrmala (Turaidas Street 1).
More information on Facebook.
On Sunday, December 15, at the Āraiši Archeological Park, you can experience one of the most ancient and popular Latvian solstice traditions – dragging the Yule log.
This tradition has various meanings. The log symbolizes the sun, which needs help getting over the hill, and also signifies fertility. The log is dragged around fields and yards to make the soil fertile. Everyone who participates in the dragging leaves their bad thoughts from the year past in the log, and then those are burned as the log is burned.
Folk dance group Dandari will be present.
The event takes place 14:00 to 16:00.
