18th of November: Through National Songs and Lights of Beaming Riga

When that dark season is already arrvied here – empty trees, dark streets, no colors of golden autumn  and no snow yet, Riga gets into celebrations. 18th of november – the national holiday – birthday of Latvia – proclomation day. What we do on this day in Riga? 

1) We go to watch National Armed Forces parade on the first part of the day at the river Daugava with the orchestra of Latvian armed forces. (11:00)

2) We go to concerts, church, make family dinner, put flowers at our freedom monument – it depends on family traditions

3) Evening part comes with the celebration event at the freedom monument with Latvian folk and choir songs and the most important – the President’s speech

4) We all are hedding back to the riverside (where we started our day with the parade) to watch fireworks over the River of destiny – Daugava.

If you are in Riga on 18th of November, you might be surprised seeing that partriotism and national consciousness which is in the air these days in November. You are welcome to join on this celebration!  

Another big and worth seeing event  - Beaming Riga. The city has been changed through colors, lights and music, technology and creativity every year around 18th on November.  This year Beaming Riga is form 17th to 21st on November – in different places  all over the city.

Let me find some pictures I made at the last years Beaming Riga and I’ll share them with you in my next post.

Freedom Monument

About the Freedom Monument in Riga I have told you before. 

You can read it here: Monument, Freedom, Flowers 

Just found this video and wanted to share with you :)

The Town Hall Square: Blackheads House & The Museum of The Occupation

The Town Hall square and Blackheads House you will eventually find on your walk through The Old Town. And you don’t want to miss it because that’s what you see on postcards from Riga. You need to make your own picture at this place.

With stalls, workshops and various feasts The Town Hall Square used to be the centre of public life during The Middle Ages. Historians consider that initially it was a market place, but after expansion of the city in 1211 the Town Hall square was formed here. Punishments were executed and pageants used to be arranged here as well. During World War II the luxurious development of Town Hall Square was completely destroyed. Thanks to grand reconstruction works in this century the main buildings - the Town Hall and Blackheads House - have been restored. In the centre of the square you can see a figure of Roland which is a symbol of judicial power, freedom and independence of many European cities.

The Blackheads House built in 1344, is a stunning example of gothic architecture. The original house was the headquarters of unmarried local merchants, known as the Blackheads.

In this square you will aslo find The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia housed in a black communist-era building - .detailing events of Latvia's recent history, from the World War II occupations to the events of independence in 1991, the museum is definitely worth a visit, in order to gain a clearer understanding of Latvia. Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00 (Jan – Apr and Oct - Dec); Tue-Sun 11:00 – 18:00 (May – Sep) Admission: Free

Similar posts: The Bastion Hill, See Riga From Hight of Birds, The Highest TV Tower in EU, The Freedom Monument, Wonders of Art Nouveau, The Old Town - Heart of Riga

The Lost World Cemetery with The Soul

About the Great Graveyard I have told you a little before. It really is one of my favorite places in Riga and I’m amazed by the beauty of 200 years old chapels and monuments in this cemetery. Unfortunately I must say that nothing is renovated there  - what means that it looks a little like lost world there. And now it’s more like a park not cemetery. I have posted some pictures of this place previously – on early spring – with the snow (It’s here: http://friendinriga.blogspot.com/2011/04/riga-which-you-dont-find-in-tourist_01.html). Some pieces of how it looks there now at the beginning of summer you can see here: 

The Art in Stone: Mysterious Easter Island in Riga.

Pauls Jaunzems is Latvian sculptor who has made a lot of great works, he had participated at the exhibitions all over the world and his sculptures you can find not only here in different towns of Latvia, but also in Reykjavik (Iceland), Istanbul (Turkey), Scarborough, Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan), Bramming (Denmark), Lithuania, South Corea, Finland & Egypt etc.

I wanna tell you about his workshop in Riga... It’s amazing place and not even Latvians/ Rigans know about this amazing place... Like a little Easter Island – near the river Buļļupe is located his workshop with great, really great stone masterpieces! Discovering this place is like discovering amazing secret! It’s beautiful, exciting and gives the feeling of sirreality....

Check his home-page to see some of his sculptures. And do not hesitate to contact him and visit his workshop when you are here! http://www.paulsjaunzems.lv/en/skulpturas

Monument, freedom & flowers

Every morning I see the Freedom Monument – it’s on my way to work. If I’m there at the same time when soldiers – guards of freedom are just arriving, I know that I still have some minutes, if they are already standing next to the monument – I’m late for work. Every morning there are some people watching and taking pictures of how the guards are coming to their place next to this monument where they stay till evening  - 5PM.  It’s at 10 AM when they’re coming.

This monument is dedicated "To Fatherland and Freedom". The 42 meter high monument is topped by a Liberty Statue - a woman with three stars symbolizing regional parts of Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale. At the base of the monument are several sculptural groups symbolizing different values - Labor, Strength of the Nation, Spiritual Strength, Freedom, Family. On the lowest block you can read historical events. The Monument was executed by Kārlis Zāle (1888-1942), a well-known Latvian sculptor. The Freedom Monument was erected in 1935 during the first period of Latvian independence between 1918 and 1940.

Today there are soo many flowers next to the monument! 4th of May - The Declaration „On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia” – yesterday it was a holiday and people have made there the shape of Latvia from flowers.

During the Soviet era, a running joke, not completely untrue, was that the monument was a travel agency, because anyone who dared place flowers at its base got a free, one-way ticket to Siberia... Our Freedom is really something important for us and the Freedom monument is something what we really respect. It’s placed at the beginning of the Freedom street – Brīvības iela, near the Bastion Hill, Opera house, in front of The Old Town.

Next to the Freedom monument (closer to the Old Town) is the most popular  place for lovers where to meet  - „Laima” clock. Laima is a name of a girl, also the name of one of gods in Latvian mythology, but in this case – chocolate. „Laima” factory is producing the best Latvian chocolate. The clock was built on 1924 to make sure that Rigans are not late for work... :)