LATVIA-LOG PULLING Latvians mark winter solstice with traditional log-pulling ceremony

Record ID: 863200

  • Title: LATVIA-LOG PULLING Latvians mark winter solstice with traditional log-pulling ceremony
  • Date: 22nd December 2014
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING AROUND LOG BONFIRE AND SINGING ANCIENT SOLSTICE FOLK SONG BUILDINGS LIT UP NEAR BONFIRE
  • Embargoed: 6th January 2015 12:00
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  • Location: Latvia
  • City:
  • Country: Latvia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC5OFPWAY8Z7JRELE93XA77YTG
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  • Story Text: Hundreds of people took part in the ancient pagan ritual of log pulling through the capital of Latvia on Sunday, December 21 -- the evening of 2014's winter solstice.
    The tradition of log pulling on the winter solstice has survived centuries of Christianity in Latvia and has found a place in many modern Latvians' calendar.
    "There are things and values that do not disappear, that do not even change, even if there are slight, time-influenced corrections, for example, streets with lights. The thinking and attitude towards things and the world in the 21st century is much wider, but spiritually we are the same as we were 10 thousand or 500 years ago," folklorist Gunta Saule said.
    Winter and summer solstice were the most important festivities for ancient peasant Latvians whose lives were dependent on the cycle of the sun.
    On the winter solstice, when the day was the shortest and the night longest of the year, ancient Latvians in rural areas dressed in masks and costumes and travelled from house to house, singing folk songs and pulling a log. Nowadays, the logs are pulled through the streets of Riga's Old Town. Hundreds of people join groups in traditional dress to sing and pull the wood on ropes through the city. Costumes included bears, cranes, even Death -- all of which have symbolic meanings in the pagan ritual.
    The journey ends where it started - in the central town square where all the logs are burnt.
    "There is such a routine and exhaustion from everyday life and all the things happening around. I wanted something pure and nice, and this is the way to regain our belief and
    hope," attendee Lelde Krumina said.
    In the past, Latvians believed that by burning the log, they were leaving all misfortunes and unhappy days behind in preparation for longer days and shorter nights.
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