Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival
By RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (80748)
Daytona Beach, Florida
June 18, 2023 5:08pm CST
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is one of the largest amateur choral and dancing events in the world. It is a very important part of Latvian culture and social life all over the world.
Being one of the Baltic song festivals, it also became a part of the UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity list in 2008.
These festivals have been held since 1873, every five years, with the part, the Latvian Dance Festival added on in 1948.
The XXVII Nationwide Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival this year marks the 150th year of the Song Festival Tradition and will be held in Riga, Latvia from June 30th to July 9th, 2023. @FourWalls you can still make it, it is really spectacular, and then you can come back and tell me what you think of Riga and this festival.
In short, 40,000 participants from 43 Latvian administrative regions, as well as other countries like the US where Latvians maintain and develop the Song and Dance Festival will arrive in Riga. For ten days there are over 60 events taking place like choir, dance, wind band, kokle (a Latvian music instrument), vocal ensemble, and amateur theater productions.
Latvia has a population of 1.96 million people and can expect half a million visitors to this festival and I know crowding Riga to its limit but such a proud tradition.
If you can’t zip over to Latvia this year, then next year you can join in the fun in Canada. Toronto, Canada has been chosen as the place for the North American Latvian Song and Dance Festival from July 4 – July 7, 2024.
In the photo, you can see my mom in her traditional Latvian costume in which she married my dad.
For those interested and wanting to know more please follow the link:
https://www.dziesmusvetki.lv/en/about-the-celebration/the-song-and-dance-celebration/
17 people like this
16 responses
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Jun 23
Your mother was very pretty, you were blessed! You said this Festival will be in Toronto, Canada next year. I thought this Festival was celebrated every five years.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Jun 23
@kobesbuddy then we both were daddy's girls
4 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra From the time I was a baby, I followed my father around the house. I was their baby for five years. Then, my brother was born, he is five years younger than me and spoiled!
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra I resemble my father also, in many ways. Even my personality is very similar to Dad's.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Jun 23
@AmberPam That certainly is my mom and she always looked about ten years younger up to her dying day, it is arranged for every five years the one in Canada is the one for North America and also for all over the US. So every five years a city in North America is assigned to host this festival. And from time to time it is in Riga, Latvia. I have been to several of these festivals during the time I lived in the US. They are a lot of fun and a great way to meet other Latvians,
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (93898)
• United States
18 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra Your life is so full of interesting details. 
2 people like this
@stapllotik (1933)
• India
19 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra I have so much respect for the hard work and dedication that goes into preserving and celebrating these important cultural traditions. Latvian pride at its finest!
3 people like this
@allknowing (137769)
• India
19 Jun 23
Don't you want to go?
Your mother looks pretty in that photo.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137769)
• India
19 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra Sad that you want to but cannot
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@allknowing sure I would love to go but I have no money or else I would go and not return
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
19 Jun 23
What a gorgeous woman your Mother was Sandra.
This is so interesting to learn of this.
Super spectacular thanks for sharing with us.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@RebeccasFarm it is certainly something to see and enjoy. In 2022 it was in St Paul so perhaps eventually it might even happen in Colorado.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
19 Jun 23
Darn it, I don’t have a passport. NOW you tell me about it! 
I’ll get working on it for next year.
I’ll get working on it for next year.1 person likes this
@FourWalls (69010)
• United States
19 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra — yeah, I can drive to that and stop at Niagara Falls on the way!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@FourWalls now you got it and you can meet hundreds of Latvians,
now you got it and you can meet hundreds of Latvians,1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@FourWalls you can attend the festival in Toronto, Canada in 2024 much closer
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@thelme55 mom was always beautiful and throughout her life looked about ten years younger. Yes, I have been to several Latvian festivals they are a lot of fun and the performances are spectacular. My mom and I attended when I was a teenager and the festival was in Cologne, Germany. Ring a bell? 
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jun 23
@thelme55 there was one organized and they have different schedules for when and where they hold these festivals. Keep it in mind another one might be held in Cologne again some time,
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77167)
• Germany
21 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra There is really a Latvian song and dance festival in Cologne Germany? I didn’t know that. How I wish I knew. I hope I can see one in the near future.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472109)
• Switzerland
20 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra Those traditional costumes were so beautiful. It is a shame we are losing the habit to wear the costumes of our countries.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@LadyDuck it will give you an idea about the festival and all the activities. I wore her costume for some occasions after she passed but eventually, it wore out.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
19 Jun 23
And I won a Mambo contest when I was a teenager!!!!!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@GreatMartin good for you. I could picture you doing some of the Latvian traditional folks dances you would have a lot of fun,
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13150)
• Ireland
19 Jun 23
@rasmasandra That sounds like a lot of fun. Must check out the kokle!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jun 23
@just4him yes, wherever the festival is even in the US there are hotel costs, ticket costs, and other expenses but it is a wonderful festival,
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16503)
• Raurkela, India
19 Jun 23
That's a lovely musical tradition to be kept alive and you mighty be very happy to identify yourself with this World famous tradition.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
19 Jun 23
Your mother was a lovely young lady. The festival sounds amazing. It will be held across the lake from us in 2024.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Jun 23
@LindaOHio so prepare to attend you will enjoy it
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
20 Jun 23
@RasmaSandra I have so much trouble getting around. We would also need to get passports. We can no longer travel to Canada without one.
1 person likes this
@stapllotik (1933)
• India
19 Jun 23
Wow, your mom looks absolutely stunning in her traditional Latvian costume! It's amazing to see such a beautiful representation of Latvian culture.
1 person likes this
