Ancient Latvian Calendar Time 18 - 19 February Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Meteni (Vastlavji, Aizgavenis, Latsvags, Miesmetis, Piragi) Ritual Activities end of kekatas (carnival activities) sledding, sleigh rides, Metenis is chased off, masquesrades Ritual Food porridge and half a pig's head, pig feet, bacon buns, rolls, beer Farming Work weaving starts, spinning end, young horses are broken in Time 20 - 23 May Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Great Day (Liela diena) day and night of equal length - spring equinox, exalted singing starts Ritual Activities washing before sunrise in running water, various activities with eggs, hanging swings and swinging, bird chasing, beating with scalded birch branches, pussy willows, spruce or juniper branches Ritual Food eggs, rye bread, boiled peas, beer Farming Work lights no longer lit in the evenings Time 19 - 20 April Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Usini Summer singing starts Ritual Activities rooster killed and blood drained into horse troughs, cross painted on door with rooster blood, horses taken to swim before sunrise Ritual Food eggs, boiled rooster, beer Farming Work weaving ends, nightly horse grazing starts, cattle grazing, ploughing, sowing time, early lunch is started Time 21 - 24 June Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Jani Longest day, shortest night - summer solstice Ritual Activities flower wreaths made, fields, stalls, cattle are sung about, bonfires, swimming at night, washing in the morning dew Ritual Food cheese, bread, pies, meat dishes, beer Farming Work haying time starts, beginning of heat wave Time 15 August Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Liela Mara Ritual Activities ram or lamb killing, ritual healing swim, sacrifices Ritual Food bread and butter, mutton Farming Work heat wave over, early lunch no longer eaten, time to start thinking of winter food, winter crop sown Time 23 September Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Apjumibas or Rudenaji Autumn equinox, beginning of the period of the souls of the dead Ritual Activities Jumis chasing and welcoming Ritual Food bread, rooster, pork or ram meat, beer Farming Work winter crop sowing and crop harvesting over, threshing starts Time 10 November Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Martini End of soul period, masquerade time starts Ritual Activities rooster killing, putting cross on door to ward off evil, Martins chasing - masquerades Ritual Food bread, chicken or goose meat, beef, Martini balls (made of peas, beans, potatoes and hemp), honey, beer Farming Work last horse grazing night, threshing over, linen processing starts, spinning Time 21-24 December Seasonal Festivals & Celebrations Christmas (Ziemassvetki) shortest day, longest night, winter solstice Ritual Activities log pulling and burning, wolf hunting Ritual Food pig snout, peas, beans, barley sausage, beer Farming Work firewood gathering

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