Four Janises, Four Stories: How the Latvian Name Jānis Connects Generations

Līgo and Jāņi, the shortest night of the year, is when Latvians gather around bonfires. This year, the newspaper 'Kurzemnieks' spoke to four men named Jānis—Jansons, Pētersons, Cimermanis, and Šala—to learn their stories about the name and the festivities.

Jānis Jansons received his name from parents who believed sons should be given strong names. He works for SC Group, manages an asphalt concrete plant in Talsi, and is responsible for Kurzeme quarries. In his free time, he enjoys home improvement and motorcycle travel, with Norway as his favorite destination. As a child, Jāņi was celebrated classically with bonfires, birch branches, rowan twigs, and caraway cheese. Now he and his wife Dace celebrate with their sons' friends.

Jānis Pētersons celebrates his birthday on June 23 and his name day on June 24 alongside Jāņi. He has worked in forestry his whole life, starting as a forest guard and now as a forest ranger. His passion is orienteering and rogaining. Last year he placed 19th in Spain, and after Jāņi he will head to the Czech Republic. He notes that the festive mood has calmed, but potato salad and tomato juice remain essential.

Jānis Cimermanis is an anesthesiologist and intensivist at Ventspils and Kuldīga hospitals. His birthday is also June 23. As a child, he blamed his parents for the name because friends didn't understand birthday invitations on Līgo eve. Now he is proud. During the holidays, he wears a grandmother-woven oak leaf wreath and grills shashlik. He urges people to celebrate wisely to avoid ending up in intensive care.

Jānis Šala is an entrepreneur and motorsports enthusiast from Kuldīga. He and his wife Līga celebrate Jāņi traditionally by decorating the house and preparing treats. His story adds to the picture of how diverse Janises celebrate and live in Latvia.