New Year's Eve, known as 'Vecgada vakars' in Latvian, is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in Latvia. This annual event marks the last day of the Gregorian Year, welcoming the upcoming year with much fanfare and enthusiasm. Traditional Latvian festivities typically involve family gatherings, exquisite feast, and a number of culturally significant customs aimed at ensuring prosperity, health, and good luck in the New Year.
Fireworks are a major part of the New Year's Eve celebrations in Latvia. As the clock strikes midnight, the sky is ablaze with vibrant colors. Latvians often gather in town squares or public places to watch the fireworks displays and raise a toast to the New Year. One beautiful tradition is to make predictions for the upcoming year during the fireworks display. Many Latvians believe that this manifestation will bring the predicted wish into reality.
Another important tradition in Latvia on New Year's Eve involves melting a small amount of lead or tin and casting it into water. The shape that the metal forms as it cools and hardens is said to predict the pattern of the approaching year. This ancient practice, known as 'Mūžīgās dzīvības koks', or the Tree of Eternal Life, is believed to cleanse the old year's negativity and make way for positivity and good luck in the New Year.