Mosaic

‘Would you like a cup of tea Loric?’

‘His name’s Goris’ said Toby.

‘Goric?’

‘No. Goris.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry’ I said.

‘Don’t worry’ said Goris ‘Ive been called all sorts of things – Lawrie, Boris ….’

Goris, like Boris, I thought, I’ll remember that. ‘Well Goris, would you like a cup of tea?’

‘That’d be nice’ he said.

‘So what’s the theme for the festival?’ asked Toby.

‘Magic’ said Goris.

‘Magic?’ asked Ilaria ‘I’ll have to think about that.’

‘There are lots of ways of interpreting it’ said Toby.

‘It’s a great festival’ said Goris. ‘They always do something original. They construct weird spaces. Last time there was a bar underground. I was down there for ages. Only about 25 people could get in.’

‘Have you been to Ginglik in Shepherd’s Bush Green?’ asked Tim.

‘Been where?’ said George. ‘I love Shepherds Bush Green.’

‘Ginglik. In the middle of the Green. It’s a bar, underground. It’s small. In what used to be the old toilets. You should check it out.’

‘Interesting’ I said.

‘What did you do for the Summer Solstice?’ someone asked.

‘I’ve been to Stonehenge a few times’ said Goris ‘but I won’t go there again. There are too many crusties and too many people are off their face. Drugs have spoiled it. I wouldn’t like to be there with children.’

‘Have you got any?’ asked Sam.

‘No’ said Goris, ‘but I wouldn’t be there with them if I had. The best place to be for the Solstice is Latvia.’

‘Latvia? Are you Latvian?’ said George.

‘Yeah, from Riga’ said Goris.

‘My family’s from Latvia’ said George. ‘Or is it Estonia?’

‘Where is Latvia exactly?’ asked Sam.

‘On the Baltic Sea’ said Goris. ‘Finland is only 60 miles away. It’s next to Russia, Estonia, Belarus and Lithuania.’

‘What happens at the Solstice?’ asked Toby.

‘Paganism is still big in Latvia. It continued underground throughout the various occupations. And the whole country celebrates the Solstice. There’s dancing, and bonfires, and folk traditions. It’s called Jani. Everyone called Janis has to wear a special costume. The men wear wreaths made from oak leaves, and the women wear wreaths made of flowers. Even the animals are dressed up. There’s folk singing, music and jumping over the fire. There’s special cheese and beer.’

‘Is there anything apart from beer? I don’t really like beer’ said George.

‘Not really’ said Goris.

‘It sounds incredible’ I said. ‘I’m going next year.’

Image of Jani celebrations from the Turaida Museum Reserve, north of Riga.

Posted under: Mosaic by Emma Biggs | Tags: Emma Biggs > folk traditions in Latvia > Jani in Latvia > mosaic can be fun > mosaic classes