As autumn sweeps across Latvia, the country celebrates Miķeļdiena, this year it’s on the 29th of September 2024. Held around late September, Miķeļdiena marks the end of the harvest work and is a time to give thanks for the year’s bounty.
Celebrating the Harvest
Latvia’s Miķeļdiena is a joyful conclusion to the harvest season. Communities come together to share freshly harvested produce, enjoy traditional foods, and partake in lively music and dance. This festival embodies the spirit of gratitude and celebration, reflecting the essence of harvest-time festivities.
A Personal Connection
Although I’ve never celebrated Thanksgiving, learning more about it and seeing how it’s observed made me realize that our Miķeļdiena shares a similar spirit. The themes of gratitude and reflection found in Miķeļdiena are similar to Thanksgiving celebrations.
School Markets for Charity
A unique aspect of Miķeļdiena is the school markets where students get involved by creating their own stalls. These markets not only offer homemade goods and crafts but also serve a charitable purpose. All the proceeds from these markets go to various charitable causes, highlighting the festival’s community spirit and generosity.
A Time for Togetherness
Whether celebrating Miķeļdiena or learning about Thanksgiving, both occasions offer a chance to unite with loved ones and appreciate life’s blessings. These traditions remind us of the importance of community and the joy of sharing a meal.
Time to Celebrate!
If you’re inspired by the idea of celebrating Miķeļdiena and the values it represents, why not join in on Sunday, September 29th? Gather with friends and family, enjoy the harvest, and perhaps even support a local charity in the spirit of giving back.
What do you think? Will you forgive me for the tile :)?
Ilze
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a day in the life of a latvian mom 
No need for forgiveness from me. We don’t do Thanksgiving and my Dad was born on Michaelmas Day.
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Of course, I forgot, that Thanksgiving is USA thing, not UK 🙂 I didn’t realize your dad was born on Michaelmas Day—what a lovely connection to the season. It’s interesting how different traditions hold special meaning for each of us around the same time 🙂
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Quite so
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I don’t know how to say the name of the celebration but boy, I would love to attend a few markets. I was thinking the holiday was much like Thanksgiving. There are charitable events but it’s not really a part of Thanksgiving. It’s charities overing free food and sometimes Christams gifts for the children. You are a great writer, so smooth. 🙂
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Thank you so much for the kind words! 😊 It’s different from Thanksgiving but shares that spirit of gratitude and gathering. I’d love to visit more markets too, especially around this time of year.
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this sounds like a beautiful celebration, lovely in so many ways – enjoy it!
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Thank you, kids bring cinnamon triangles (a delicious treat) to the school’s market today! Sold them all 🙂
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yay!
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A great thing to celebrate.
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It sure is Peggy, thank you!
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Your holiday sounds wonderful, Ilze! I would enjoy attending. ❤️
Our Thanksgiving has never been the same since my mother passed, and now my dad. We will have this special day in November but not on the traditional day, back in Michigan.
Enjoy your special holiday and tell your family how much you love them, there’s no time like the present, Ilze. ❤️
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Thank you for your kind words! I’m sorry to hear about your parents—holidays can feel so different without our loved ones. It’s wonderful that you’re still making that special time in November to gather. I will definitely cherish this time with my family and remind them how much they mean to me. Sending love to you as you celebrate your holiday in Michigan. ❤️
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Thank you so much, Ilze! My mother used to make the entire Thanksgiving dinner, she was an AMAZING cook but very modest about it. I would love a couple of bowls of her bean soup right now. Best wishes for you and your lovely family! ❤️😊
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Growing up in Germany, we also celebrated the end of the harvest season with a day called “Erntedankfest,” which means as much as “giving thanks for the harvest. It sounds very similar to your celebration in Latvia.
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Latvia’s culture has been greatly influenced by other major countries. For example, pancakes filled with boiled ground meat (in Germany named ‘Morgen komm wieder’) are my favorite Latvian dish 🙂
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That’s a funny name for a pancake. But I have to admit that I have never heard it–or tasted it. 😊
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🙂 That is what it’s called in Germany, by that name alone – I wouldn’t know what is it, till my mom told me, oh, that is a pancake with the meat inside 😀
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Happy Miķeļdiena! I l like the idea of the charitable giving in connection with the holiday.
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