Riga - European Capital of Culture 2014 candidate

midsummer nightbonfires (līgo)Not so long ago, the summer solsticewas a solstice festival for the entire nation.This celebration marks the longestday and shortest night, it is the daywhen the sun has reached its highestpoint in the sky, when the flow of timeappears to stop for a moment. To prolongthe effect of light, bonfires are lit.At the 2014 solstice, Riga will inviteyou to celebrate the shortest night ofthe year, to come together and uniteneighbours from near and far, travellingfrom bonfire to bonfire.The origins of the summer solstice celebrationsreach back into the immeasurablepast – in the sun cults of the farmingpeople. Its origins can probably be datedat least to the era of the Indo-Europeancommunity – 4000 or 5000 B.C. In the 12 thcentury, when German crusaders landedon the eastern Baltic shores, they were notin the least bit surprised by the revelriesand joy, by the bonfires flickering in thedark of night.During the 16 th and 17 th centuries on thenight of 24 th June, Midsummer bonfiresburned throughout Europe, starting fromthe British Isles and extending as far as theUrals. In Italy they were called San Giovannibonfires, in France – the Saint Jean bonfires.They are also burned in honour ofYan, John, Juan, Hans, Johannus, IvanKupala and, of course, Jānis. These bonfiresare lit on the highest hills everywhere,but in large villages and cities – in the centralsquare. Paris used to have a bonfire oneach city block, and the King often tookpart in the ceremony by lighting the SaintJean bonfire himself.It could safely be said that the summersolstice is the most popular Latvian celebration– lights, joviality, songs and thepeak of fertility. Of all the seasonal songs,Latvians have more Līgo songs than anyothers – particularly sonorous songs thatare sung at the midsummer solstice andwhich differ from other folk songs with theirspecific refrains: ‘līgo’, ‘rotā’ or ‘rūto’, dependingon the region in Latvia.It is said that on the night of the summer solstice,the sky opens and a fern blossomswith golden flowers – those who witnessthis can make a wish and it should cometrue. The flowering fern also has eroticsignificance – to search for the floweringfern means to select your other half on thisfertility night. Above all – Jānis’ mother (thehostess) makes cheese and Jānis’ father(the host) brews beer. The singing neverstops.In the city squares, there will be opportunitiesto learn about some of the festivaltraditions by going from bonfire to bonfirein several locations in the city. Folkloreand dance groups will involve everyonein songs devoted to the shortest night.They will also teach various dance steps,similar to Riga’s 800 th anniversary celebrationsin 2001, when tens of thousands ofpeople actively participated in a truly upliftingemotional experience. Throughout theLīgo, also called Jāņi celebrations, an unconsciousjourney through different Indo-European traditions will be discovered inall regions of the city.What: National festival.Where: Throughout the city of Riga and inSigulda.When: 21 st June 2014.Concept author and organizer: Riga’s ECCtask group.Cooperation partners: Folklore groups,craftsmen, dance groups.the great riga gameTo know and recognise Riga, to rediscoverit, to be oneself in one’s owncity. Or to get to know and discover anew Riga. An event for inquisitive andactive people.The “Great Riga Game” is an exciting orienteeringgame for grown-ups and childrenand is a traditional activity of Riga’s annualCity Festival. It is not just recreational innature, but also educational and has beendeveloped at several levels.In one of these levels, the “Great RigaGame” invites its players to orienteer notjust through the city, but also through thecenturies. Polish times, Swedish times,Russian or Tsarist times, times of the1 st song celebrationfor spectatorsSong celebrates a grand day today, allof the spectators are singing!Chorus singing traditions in Latvia areancient and strong. The Latvian SongCelebration takes place every fiveyears, and in between – the Youth SongCelebration. The choral movement is stillactive even in the years between the SongCelebrations. Begun during the festivitiesof Riga’s 800 th anniversary, spectator singalongswith choirs have become a populartradition. During Song Celebrations as wellas other large, urban events. The Songunites!The main idea behind the “1 st Song CelebrationFor Spectators” is to switch the customaryroles, bringing the spectator to theNational Awakening – various stages ofhistory and changes experienced by thecity. To know the pace of history, to recognisea period by a characteristic historicalfact and connect it to a specific place inthe city – this is a challenge for both oldand young.When did the Calendar Unrests take place?Which public place was established inconnection with the Nystad Peace Treaty?Which is Riga’s first water tower? When didthe ‘good old Swedish times’ begin?Because answers to these questions atthis level will also be accessible on theInternet in foreign languages, anyone interestedin Riga will be able to take part.However, it will only be possible to play theentire game on the spot, as there are controlpoints to be visited and express tasksforefront. To place the spectators on themain Song Celebration stage platform, toallow each spectator to feel and experiencethe simultaneous responsibility andelation felt by choir singers during SongCelebration concerts. Anyone can becomea soloist at the 1 st Song Celebrationfor Spectators – the concert director givesthe microphone to a freely chosen singerand the spectator becomes a soloist onthe Mežaparks open-air stage.In order to achieve the full effect of a SongCelebration, there are plans to organize aspectator rehearsal, thereby providing thefeel of what it means for a choir to workwith a conductor, as well as introducing thespectator to the evening concert’s repertoire.Additionally, concert spectator andco-singer rows will be augmented by professionalmusicians and choir singers.What: Concert rally after the Great Talka.Where: Mežaparks open-air stage.to be carried out.After visiting the many control points in differentlocations in Riga, the weary playerswill arrive at the Laboratory of Flavours on11. novembra Embankment. Taste budswill be challenged and delicious prizesawarded for correct answers.The grand prize will be won by those whohave completed the full set of tasks at alllevels of the game.What: Interactive game.Where: Throughout the city of Riga,cultural institutions.When: August 2014, during the Riga CityFestival.Concept author and organizer: x-aģentūra.Cooperation partners: Riga Central Libraryand its branches, Riga’s museums.When: July 2014.Concept author: “Untitled” LtdCooperation partner: League of RigaChoirs92 93