Christmas in Latvia

Overall, Latvian Christmas traditions are very conventional. Locals observe the Advent season, go to church, decorate Christmas trees, and feast with their loved ones.

However, some customs are peculiar to the Baltics and Scandinavian regions, such as dragging and burning the Yule log, mumming, and decorating the house with straw ornaments.

Latvia has everything it takes for a perfect Christmas getaway – plenty of snow, cozy Christmas markets, delicious food, amazing cathedrals, and festive spirit.

When Do Latvians Celebrate Christmas?

Over 80% of Latvians are Christians, but the denominations are diverse. Lutheranism is the prevalent religion in the region, accounting for nearly 35% of all Christians.

Catholicism is the second most widespread denomination, accounting for 25% of the population, and about 20% of Latvians are Orthodox Christians or Old Believers.

Consequently, most Latvians celebrate Christmas on December 25 like Americans, yet every fifth person celebrates it on January 7. Latvian Orthodox Christians belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate.

Advent vs. Nativity Fast

The meaning of Christmas remains constant regardless of the denomination and region, yet traditions differ. Latvia blends Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christmas customs.

The most significant difference is the period leading up to Christmas. Catholics and Lutherans observe the Advent tradition, whereas Orthodox Christians and Old Believers the Nativity Fast.

Interestingly, Advent and Nativity Fast were initially the same traditions. Firth-century monks in France used to starve throughout the entire December as an act of penance.

Over time, Catholics switched from fasting to lighting candles on Sundays and reading prayers, while Orthodox continued observing the fasting period but made the rules less strict.

Every Sunday for four weeks leading up to Christmas, Latvian Catholics and Lutherans light a candle in an Advent wreath. The wreath’s circular shape represents the never-ending cycle of life.

Advent wreaths are traditionally made from evergreen branches adorned with pinecones, berries, and apples. Advent Sundays are a time for quiet family gatherings and enjoying traditional food.

Orthodox Latvians refrain from meat, dairy, oil, alcohol, and any bodily temptations for 40 days before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, they don’t eat anything solid until the first star appears in the sky.

Christmas Decorations in Latvia

Latvian Christmas decorations are very traditional. Locals favor natural materials and simplicity. You won’t find entire streets sparkling in colorful fairy lights like in the U.S. – Latvians focus on interior decoration more than the exterior.

The streets of major Latvian towns are decorated with elegant holiday displays and garlands. You can find a large Christmas tree in every Latvian town square, usually natural.

Latvians also decorate Christmas trees in their homes. The ornaments are conventional – baubles, bows, dried fruit, nuts, tinsel, fairy lights, angels, stars, and paper snowflakes.

Faux trees aren’t in favor of Latvians because forests make up nearly half of the country’s territory. Latvians prefer fragrant balsam firs to any other evergreen coniferous tree, and there’s never a shortage – Christmas trees are sold on every corner.

Christmas wreaths are also popular – Latvians hang them above fireplaces or on doors. Shopping malls and other public places are typically creative with decorations.

Traditional hanging ornaments from straw are unique to the Baltics and Scandinavia. These ornaments can be small, adorning the Christmas tree, or large, hanging from the ceiling.

Ethnic Traditions

Ethnic traditions in Latvia stand firm throughout the centuries, so Christmas is a blend of Christian and pagan customs. In Latvia’s major towns and rural regions, people participate in mumming.

People wear scary costumes of animals and living corpses and wander around neighborhoods, singing carols to ward off evil spirits. They bless the house owners and grant them fertility.

Another pagan Latvian tradition is the dragging and burning of the Yule log. Norse pagans also observed this custom and likely brought it to Latvia in Viking times.

Back in the day, people would bring an entire tree trunk home and burn it throughout winter solstice celebrations to frighten ghosts and other evil spirits. The light of the Yule log was believed to welcome spring.

Nowadays, people drag a large log rather than an entire trunk through town streets and burn it in main town squares to the sound of folk music. Latvian Nature Museum also hosts the ritual every year.

Some Latvians still engage in fortune-telling on Christmas Eve. Women forecast who their future husbands will be and whether they will be lucky the following year.

Christmas Food in Latvia

Latvian Christmas food blends German, Scandinavian, Baltic, and Russian cuisines. An all-time Latvian staple is grey peas with onion and bacon, commonly served at traditional restaurants.

However, locals rarely eat this dish for Christmas. Most Latvians prefer schnitzel with potatoes and sauerkraut (so German), sausages, roast chicken, or Christmas ham.

Any Latvian dish is served with dark rye bread. It’s both healthy and delicious and goes well with any topping, including cheese, ham, and butter with salt.

Locals have favored Rasol or Olivier salad since Soviet times. This salad is made with boiled potatoes, eggs, carrots, green peas, mayo, and some type of meat, usually sausage or boiled beef.

Latvians also love soups – it’s a perfect food for cold winter evenings. The most popular kinds are pea soup, borscht (Russian beetroot soup with meat), and mushroom soup, always served with sour cream and a piece of rye bread.

Bread soup is a unique Latvian dish served for dessert throughout the year, including Christmas. The recipe may seem odd, but it’s delicious mixed with some dried fruit and whipped cream.

Gingerbread is extremely popular in Latvia due to German influence. You can find it at any Latvian grocery store and Christmas market, but most locals prefer to bake it at home.

The most traditional Latvian Christmas drink is undoubtedly mulled wine, but many locals prefer beer (Latvian craft beer is a must-try for all enthusiasts).

Gift Exchange

Latvians exchange gifts with their family and closest friends on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Latvian Orthodox Christians typically exchange gifts for New Year’s but rarely for Christmas.

Giving small gifts to colleagues is acceptable in Latvia. Many companies host the Secret Santa gift exchange, where people have to guess who their gift-giver is.

Christmas Old Man

Latvians have two gift-givers. Catholic kids believe in Ziemassvetku Vecitis (Winter Holiday Grandfather) and Orthodox kids in Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost).

Interestingly, although many Latvians are Lutherans, Christkindl isn’t particularly popular in the region.

Ziemassvetku Vecitis is the Latvian Santa Claus. Although his name doesn’t indicate any relation to Saint Nicholas from Myra, he has the same origin and appearance as American Santa. Latvian Santa has elf helpers and rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer.

Latvian Santa enters homes through chimneys and leaves gifts under the Christmas tree. Fun fact – Santa is a traditional Latvian women’s name.

Grandfather Frost is a Slavic mythological figure, a winter god who wears a long blue ornate robe and a fur hat and carries a magical scepter. Unlike Santa, who is plump and jolly, Grandfather Frost is tall, fit, and more serious.

The Birthplace of Christmas Tree?

Latvia claims to be the birthplace of the Christmas tree tradition. According to Latvian historians and politicians, the first Christmas tree in the world was put up on Riga Dome Square by merchants of the Brotherhood of Blackheads in the 13th century.

However, historians from other countries doubt it. Latvians indeed were among the first to adopt the tradition because of strong German influence, but they likely weren’t the first ones.

Other countries fighting for the title of Christmas tree inventors are Estonia and Germany. Regardless of who’s right, the legend attracts thousands of tourists to Latvia every Christmas.

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets are a focal point of European Christmas celebrations, and Latvia isn’t an exception. Because Latvia is a small country, the only noteworthy Christmas market for tourists is the one held in Old Riga.

Local artisans sell gifts, food, drinks, ornaments, and various crafts in wooden stalls on Riga Dome Square.

Near the market stands the largest Christmas tree in the country. Every year, the city council hosts a competition for the best Christmas tree design idea.

However, small Latvian towns also organize cozy Christmas fairs for locals, albeit not as elaborate as the one in Old Riga.

Church Services

The Midnight Mass is a universal Christmas tradition uniting Christians of all denominations. On Christmas Eve, Latvians go to church to read biblical passages, sing hymns, and rejoice, celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The Midnight Mass typically begins at 10 p.m. and ends around midnight. The largest Catholic Midnight Mass in Latvia takes place in the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Old Riga and Orthodox in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Riga center.

Some people also go to church on Christmas morning. However, many Latvians prefer to spend Christmas at home with their families instead of attending church services.