European map
City snapshot
Celebrations to start in Riga for St Martin's Day
St Martin’s Day is an especially important day in Riga. The holiday actually falls on November 11, but it is most often celebrated the night before. The celebrations are a merging of ancient pagan traditions and Christian traditions brought by the Germans in the 16th and 17th centuries. People dress in masks styled after animals and go door to door singing, dancing and begging for small gifts. St Martin is considered the patron saint of beggars.
The most common masks are the crane mask with a giant beak, the bear mask whose user gives out mighty roars to bring good luck and the death mask to purge sicknesses and bring good health.On Martin’s Day the men of a household traditionally paint the door to the stables with the blood of a black rooster and women paint the doors of the barn holding livestock with the blood of a hen.
The holiday is also celebrated with feasting on chicken or duck. While most people celebrate Martin’s Day with their friends and families, there are a few public festivities scheduled. The most notable public celebration in Latvia this year will be held at the open-air museum in Riga.
This article was written for TravelSavvy Europe by Rad Djork. If you know of an interesting European travel related news story, please get in contact.
