June 25. 2012
 

June 24, 2012 was Jani ( Johns )Day in Latvia. Most people in Latvia and other European countries have a name day.This is a special day just for those with that special name. Jani is the most popular mans name so it is celebrated throughout with many phases. I am visiting with Jani, my friend, with his mother and girlfriend. His grandfather , and friend with the same name. Saturday was a day of preparation,making food, eating food, drinking beer and homemade Birch wine, eating some more, talking , more beer.

  We went into the meadows around the cottage to collect wildflowers to make head wreaths for the women . We collected malpe branches and leaves to make head wreaths for the Jani's at the party. We sang, ate and enjoyed the patio, lake and chilly weather.

  Everyone about 20 of us sat at the table full of traditional latvian food with special recipes for Jani Day. Rita, grandma read and talked to all of us at the table about the traditions, we, actually they sang songs, she shared the history and taditions of the day. The we started to eat/ Other guests showed up so we went outside and sang and welcomed them, that happened several times, oh yes and tosted the guests with beer.

 The guests arrived with decorations on their car of maple leaves, garlands, wreaths, so many types. They did teach me how they made and attatched them to the cars. Next Wedding Class we wil do it.

   The next step was for everyone to go into the field to collect 27 different flowers and herbs. This bouquet we are to dry and keep in our homes. If something bad happens we are to take some, make tea and all bad will go away. Love that tradition. Everyone came back to the decorated tent in the clearing with food, glowers, candles. The long table was lovely. There wad a bonfire all stacked up as LandArt, very attractive, rather a shame to burn. The fire was lit, more food cooked outside, laughing, singing, dancing. A friend brought her saxaphone to play like an angel. I showed them some zumba steps, we had fun with that.
  The men made a fire way up on a pole, and lit it. Tradition is that it is a long day, the sun does not set on Latvia this time of the year. The fire in the air shows how the night is light, resembling the sun.
   More dance, foor and beer. I went to bed about 12:30, they stayed up all night, coming back to the sauna about 3:00AM, shower, food, and to bed about 6:00AM. The beginning of Jani Day.
   The family and friends were up around 10:30 with the saxapone announcing breakfast. It was a slow rainy day, great relaxing, nap now and then. The guests started to leave after lunch. About 8:00 the boys went to the lake, made a fire in the water off of the shore.I taught a small class on weaving and making paper flowers, we talked design and trends. The ladies went into the hot tub outside with Birch wine, peony and apple blossoms, candles, some mint...sort of Florist soup instead of Stone Soup. We had strawberry facials, with the new moon overhead. Great sleeping.

   Monday we were up into Riga. We visited the main wholesale house and flower shops. We prpared for tomorrows flight to Russia.