Kapusvētki: The Latvian Cemetery Festival
People used to bury their dead relatives next to their house, and for sanitary reasons, they built cemeteries. Being around the deceased was important and people would miss church to go to the cemetery, so the church decided to make a festival. But in the 1940s, the state didn’t like this celebration as it was linked to the church, and the festival became also a way to resist the sovietization of Latvia.
Before the festival, the gravestones would be cleaned and flowers would be planted / taken care of to make everything look as beautiful as possible.
During the festival, there is singing and preaching.
After the festival, there is a dinner party.
Things to say when arriving at the festival:
“It is so beautiful here.”
“It is so peaceful here.”
“It is so green here.”
Things to avoid doing at the festival:
Not washing your hands when leaving the cemetery (insult to the gods).
