On December 21, 2022, at 17.00 Riga Culture and Recreation Center "Imanta" together with the folklore group "Silavoti" invites everyone - big and small - to participate in the Yule log pulling event.

The holiday, which Latvians celebrated during the darkest time of the year, at the winter solstice, waiting for the return of light - the Sun, was once called Yule log evening.

Dragging the log is probably the most beautiful and perhaps one of the oldest winter solstice ritual events. Its most ancient meaning was participation in the cosmic mystery of the return of the Sun, when, having descended into the lowest valley of the Mount of Heaven, it was again preparing to begin a new upward ascent.

The rolling of the log resembled the movement of the Sun. Dragging and later burning the log involves traditions rich in meaning, layered on top of each other. Some believe that the log represents the sun, which is dragged up the hill by the masque procession (ķekatas) and encourages the return of light, others that by pulling the log along the streets and yards collecting people's failures, misfortunes and bad deeds of the past year, which are then destroyed by burning the log at the end of the event.

Big and small are invited in their ķekatas costumes to scare away the darkness and evil, as well as to welcome the new year cycle with songs and games.

The folklore group "Silavoti" was established in 1991 as a singing group, which sing about the Latvian annual rites and perform ancient traditions. The founder of the "Silavoti" group is Dzidra Jansone, whose work is now being continued by her two sons - Ramants and Daris. The collective performs a lot of concerts throughout Latvia. In 2021, "Silavoti" celebrated its 30 years of existence.

The event is free of charge.

This is one of the Riga Municipality's Christmas activities. You will be able to familiarize yourself with all festive events in Riga very soon on the website https://svetki.riga.lv/, as well as follow the municipal social network page "Rīgā notiek".