Latvian Holidays: Important Events & Days Off for Latvia

15 March 2017by Christian Eilers3 min read

Summary:

In this brief post, we list the most popular Latvian holidays, events, and days off so that you can better understand Latvia.

Updated: 2019-06-23.

Calendar of Key Dates, National Holidays, and Important Days

Whether you’re about to visit or just keen on learning about the culture, check out our handy little calendar to learn about the different holidays and celebrations in Latvia. And as an added little bonus, we’ve listed the names of the months in the Latvian language below the months’ names in English 🙂

January

Janvāris

1 January: New Year’s Day (Jaunais Gads.)
20 January: 1991 “Barricades” Memorial Day (1991 Gada Barikāžu Aizstāvju Atceres Dienu.)

February

Februāris

• nothing to show for this month •

Related Read: Here’s Why February Has 28 or 29 Days

March

Marts

8 March: International Women’s Day (Starptautisko Sieviešu Dienu.)
Varying Friday: Good Friday (Lielā Piektdiena. The Friday preceding Easter Sunday, anytime from end of March through April.)

April

Aprīlis

Varying Sunday: Easter Sunday (Lieldienas. Easter in “Western Christianity” is always on one Sunday between 22 March and 25 April on the Gregorian calendar, sometime during the first week after the astronomical full moon.)
Varying Monday: Easter Monday (Otrās Lieldienas. The Monday immediately following Easter Sunday.)

May

Maijs

1 May: Labor Day (Darba svētki. Known alternately as “May Day” or “International Workers’ Day”)
4 May: Restoration of Independence Day (Latvijas Republikas Neatkarības atjaunošanas diena.)
8 May: Defeat of Nazism Day (Nacisma sagrāves dienu un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas dienu.)
9 May: Europe Day (Eiropas Dienu.)
Varying Sunday: Mother’s Day (Mātes diena. 2nd Sunday in May.)
15 May: International Family Day (Starptautisko Ģimenes Dienu.)
17 May: Firefighters and Rescuers Day (Ugunsdzēsēju un Glābēju Dienu.)

June

Jūnijs

1 June: International Child Protection Day (Starptautisko Bērnu Aizsardzības Dienu.)
14 June: Communist Genocide Victims Memorial Day (Komunistiskā Genocīda Upuru Piemiņas Dienu.)
22 June: Heroes’ Remembrance Day (Varoņu Piemiņas Dienu.)
23 June: Midsummer Eve (Līgo Diena.)
24 June: Midsummer’s Day (Jāņi.)

July

Jūlijs

4 July: Jewish Genocide Victims Memorial Day (Ebreju Tautas Genocīda Upuru Piemiņas Dienu.)
2nd Saturday: Marine Day (Jūras Svētku Dienu.)

August

Augusts

11 August: Latvian Freedom Fighters Memorial Day (Latvijas Brīvības Cīnītāju Piemiņas Dienu.)
21 August: Constitutional Law Acceptance Day (Konstitucionālā Likuma “Par Latvijas Republikas Valstisko Statusu” Pieņemšanas Dienu.)
23 August: Victims of Stalinism and Nazism Memorial Day (Staļinisma un Nacisma Upuru Atceres Dienu.)