At the beginning of February, Riga will welcome the 28th International Festival of Mask Traditions and the traditional Meteņi celebration - a three-day cultural event where Latvian and foreign masking traditions, folklore, music, rituals and a modern view of intangible cultural heritage will meet.
The center of the festival will be Latvian Meteņi traditions and masking culture, while creating an international platform for getting to know the winter masking traditions of different nations, cultural dialogue and mutual exchange of experiences.
February 5 - International Mask Day
The festival will be opened on February 5 in Rātslaukam, paying special attention to the masquerade traditions of foreign guests. Visitors will have the opportunity to get to know the masking culture of China, Romania and Lithuania, its characteristic masks, costumes, music, dances and rituals, as well as watch the performances of Latvia's brightest traditional mask groups.
February 6 – Meteņi celebrations in Old Riga
The central day of the festival will be February 6, when traditional Meteņi celebrations will take place in Rātslaukum and other places in Old Riga from 12:00 to 18:00. More than 200 members of Latvian folklore ensembles and mask groups from various regions of Latvia, as well as foreign guests of the festival, will gather in them, creating a magnificent and diverse atmosphere of the Meteņi festival.
One of the most visually impressive events of the day will be the extensive Meteņi ritual and mask procession, where Latvian and foreign mask groups will gather together. The march will move along the route: Rātslaukums – Kaļķu iela – Skārņu iela – Audēju iela – Valņu iela – Kalķu iela – Livu square – Rātslaukums. Visitors are invited to come in masks or create them on the spot - traditional or modern
The whole day in Rātslaukum will be filled with mask shows, strength competitions, creative workshops, the Meteņdien fair, sleigh rides and delicacies.
Livu Square will turn into a Latgalian homestead, where several collectives from Latgale will tell about the celebration of Metendiena, or Aizgavėnais, as it is called in their side. In the period from 12.00 to 15.00, folklore ensembles from Latgale will show the visitors of the event how to have a good time, sing and dance in the spirit of Latgales.
February 7 – District mask traditions in Old Riga
The Sunday event is planned to start at At 12:00 with several mascot processions in different places - masked groups and folklore ensembles will arrive in Old Riga by public transport - involving both passengers in public transport and guests of Old Riga met along the way.
On this day, Livu Square will turn into a unifying place where all collectives, mask groups, traditions, games and the special cuisine of the Meteņi period will meet. On Sunday, we will especially invite everyone to brag - regional folklore ensembles, artists, businessmen and restaurant owners of Old Riga will brag. Bragging was not considered a sin in Meteni, but a way to attract luck and success, and will continue until 15:00.
