Ingrida SmukaAssistant Professor, PhD

Latvian Academy of Sport Education

Celebration HistoryNationwide Latvian Song and Dance

Celebration is a traditional cultural event in Latvia.

The Festival is part of Latvian national identity

The Festival take place every 5 years in Riga

Since the 1873 this festival has taken place 25 times

The Song Festival is unique

Celebration HistoryFestival have a 140 year-old historyIt is a most characteristic cultural tradition of

the BalticFestival are based a cappella singing

tradition, a nowadays include a various types of artistic and forms of expression

Festival is a unique Latvian folklore heritage2008 the tradition of the Latvian Song and

Dance Celebration was included in the UNESCO

Celebration HistoryRoots of festival found in the 19th

century in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

First singing festival in 1857 in Tallinn and in 1861 in Riga.

In 1864. first latvian choirs singing festival in Dikļi. (participated 6 choirs with 120 singers (man))

Celebration HistoryThe first Latvian National Song Festival wos the 1873 in Riga.

Festival organizer: Latvian Society of Riga

The Latvian Song Festival flag

Flag Description:Made (sewed) in LeipzigThe flag made: front of a white and red silk and velvet. On

the velvet are arranged gold ornaments and tassels (pušķi).Middle of the flag is picture embroidered with silk threads:

sacred grove, large old oak, under the large oak is an altar.On the altar burning flames and smoke waves go up.   At the altar stands an old man and he held branch of oak

in the right hand. At the top of the flag embroidered name: “Līgo” (sway) and

the bottom of the flag date - 26th of June 1873. Size: height - 72 inch (1 inch (colla) 2,54cm) and 50 inch

width.

Celebration History

X-XIX Song Festival took place during the Soviet time

Dance groups the first time participated in the festival in 1948.

Since the 1960, every 5 years take place the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival

Celebration History

During ocupation of Latvia exile Latvians began to arrange Latvian Song Festival in the major Latvian centers in abroad

Celebration HistoryThe first Latvian Song Day in Canada was held in

September of 1952, in Toronto

The first Song Festival in USA was held in May of 1953, in Chicago (Festival attended by 22 choirs with more than 650 participants and 5,000 listeners)

In Hamburg European exile Latvian Song and Dance Festival began in 1964

Number of participants:1873 year – 1003 participants1880 – 1624 participants1888 – 2618 participants..............1990 – 30000 participants2008 – 35000 participants2013 - 40 600 ( participants from different

countries)

Folklore groups in the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Celebration :

Folklore and folk music groups widely represented wos in 21st Latvian Song and Dance Celebration in 1993

Celebration cycle:

Since 1926th annual Celebration cycle is determined every 5 years except during World War II

The next Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival – 2018. This festival will be in honor of the centennial anniversary of coutry.

The XXV Nationwide Latvian Song and XV Dance Celebration 2013 Date: 30th June till to 7th July, 2013.Festive keyword was: “ Līgo” (sway)festival gathered a record number of

participants - 388 choirs, 224 vocal groups.A record number of foreign participants - a

total of 1,300 participants from different Latvian abroad communities and the 96 national minorities groups

Before the FestivalLatvian Song and Dance Festival –

performance and competition

Before the Festival

During the Festival concerts in different places of Riga city

During the Festival Concert on both sides of city Canal

Last day of the Festival

Festival procession usually takes place the last day of Song and Dance Festival the morning (all participants)

Procession of the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival participants

Procession of the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival participants

Procession of the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival participants

Procession of the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival participants

http://www.ltv.lv/lv/raksts/08.07.2013-dziesmu-svetku-daliibnieku-gajiens-no-dailes-teatra.id16296/

The evening takes place the Gala Concert (closing ceremony)

Celebration in year 2013 Riga from June 30 till July 7

Congratulation of conductor of chour

XXV Nationwide Latvian Song Celebration 2013“ Lūgšana”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0XXoQcSiWk

XXV Nationwide Latvian Song Celebration 2013Saule, pērkons, Daugava

phttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VyTf_0FQ2o

XV Dance Celebration 2013http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=coxbYJmt6GE

Flail (sprigulis)Skaloju, velēju baliņam kreklu 2xKlip klap klap 2x baliņam krekluLai manis bāliņis kā saule staigā 2xKlip klap klap 2x kā saule staigā 2xVelēja vālīte pa vēlētavu 2xKlip klap klap 2x pa vēlētavu 2x

Thank you for your attention!

Es izjāju prūšu zemi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvALtGanrRI