This year, Lāčplēsis Day, due to the limitations of Covid-19, takes place without the traditional festive events, but no less heartily. Although people are invited to stay at home, without the hustle and bustle of Riga, in the Brothers’ Cemetery near the image of Mother Latvia, and in many other places of remembrance of soldiers, flowers and candles fell all over Latvia.
Lāčplēsis Day is quietly celebrated in Riga
Lāčplēsis day events in Riga on Wednesday, November 11, as usual, began with worship. However, unlike other times, the sacrament took place for the first time in the garden of the Dome Church and only a few representatives of the armed forces and allies were invited to it.
At the Brothers’ Cemetery, the country’s top officials laid flowers at the image of Mother Latvia at 15-minute intervals.
Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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Photo: LETA, Evija Trifanova
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On the eve of Lāčplēsis Day, around 6 pm, a large number of lit candles are placed near the wall of Riga Castle, but people do not crowd nearby. Only a few people are visible at the candles. The situation is monitored by police officers. Unlike other years, the embankment on November 11 this year is not closed on Lāčplēsis Day evening.
According to the agency LETA, a little more people can be found on the eve of Lāčplēsis Day at the Freedom Monument, at the foot of which candles are also placed, honoring the Latvian Freedom Fights and the victory over the Bermont Army.
Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –– Photo: Aija Kinca / LTV –—
In Daugavpils, flowers were laid at soldiers’ monuments, but in the city’s central square, citizens are invited to add their candles to the illuminated outline of Latvia. Liepaja residents have also responded to the call to honor the heroes of the Freedom Fight individually. Already on Wednesday afternoon, flowers and candles were lit in the cemetery near the fallen soldiers. – A year ago, in many places in Latvia, residents gathered for processions and commemorative events, and in Jēkabpils several hundred people with burning torches went to the monument “Fallen for the Fatherland” to agree on a common moment of commemoration. The Druvenieki family also participates in the traditional Lāčplēsis Day events every year, but this year, taking into account the situation in the country, mother Dace and daughter Ieva have fallen soldiers are honored by individually placing candles in a place of remembrance.
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–In Liepaja and Daugavpils – flowers at soldiers’ monuments
Instead of the torchlight procession in Jēkabpils, the fallen soldiers are commemorated in the family circle
