Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Celebration in Riga, July

In 2008, three Baltic countries -- Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia -- will celebrate 90 years since their independence. Year 2008 will also be significant for Latvia as around 35 000 participants will gather in our capital Riga for the XXIV Song and XIV Dance Celebration. It is not just a festival -- the tradition goes back for 135 years and in 2003 together with Lithuanian and Estonian Song and Dance tradition it was recorded in the UNESCO list of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage.

http://www.dziesmusvetki2008.lv/index.php?&99

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• culture
• destination
• events
• landmark
• Latvia
• song
• dance
• celebration
• latvians

[VonRix]

:) Yes, except the people here do it voluntarily, nobody forces them to get together on the evening 4 years long and learn the songs and dance steps of our forefathers, and the songs are not about leaders and great peple, they are about mother and father, the orphans, and soldiers who are forced to leave home, about singing and dancing, about sun, about silver forest thats has to be respected, about nature, ravens and oak treees.

[VonRix]

The only leaders that are honoured are song writers, poets, directors. Plus - you don't watch song festival, you feel it, and to feel it you have to be latvian.

[alcapsints]

2:23 WooHoo

[androidrebel]

Why do people have to put the comments on nationalistic terms? This isn't about "nationalism" it is about feelings shared by a people.

When someone has a specific history and language he can feel an expression like these songs more than any other people would. Even if the text would be translated and they knew the history these choirs can't be felt so deeply by non-Latvians.

But the example about the World Cup is slightly wrong, italians would feel something similar when hearing "Va Pensiero".

[TurnWhiteProductions]

Cik Stulbi Ka pie latviesu video jaraksta anglu valoda vai tas liek justies labaak ?

[FreeAgain2]

Dude - seriously - nobody speaks russian except in Russia. 

[rudyjlys]

Слава Латвії! Слава латвійському народу!

Я завжди був в захопленні від цього маленького, але мужнього і згуртованого народу. Моє вітання Вам з України.

Ми Вас любимо, бо Ви є націоналісти!

[Lachausis]

It's a dance and song festival...

[normalais]

Yes we are Latvian. Go back to your mothers basement where 50% of 35 year old Italians live, and continue supporting your child molesting church leaders

[silvijam]

@VonRix

That's because you're Latvian and not Italian!

[silvijam]

Well, that's 'cause you're Latvian and not Italian!

[agrishin]

Actual'y i like Latvia, Estonia but i'm allergic to MASS nationalism, i think its tastiful, would it be Russian, Soviet communist, Baltic, but its just the matter of taste sorry...