Līgo Festival: Traditional Summer Solstice Celebration in Latvia

In an article titled 'Своя ночь у костра: русские Латвии и праздник летнего солнцестояния' (A Night by the Fire: Russian Latvians and the Summer Solstice), LSM describes the traditional Līgo celebration. Every summer in the second half of June, Latvian villages and cities are filled with bonfire smoke, songs with the chorus 'Līgo', and the smell of cumin cheese. Cumin cheese is a traditional food for the Līgo festival. This festival, also known as Jāņi, is considered the main summer celebration of the Latvian people. It coincides with the summer solstice, as noted in the article's title, and is celebrated with bonfires, singing, and traditional foods. The publication emphasizes that Līgo remains a central cultural event in Latvia during the summer. The tradition is alive in both rural areas and cities.