Around the summer solstice, when the days are at their longest, it’s time for one of my favorite little traditions – collecting wildflowers for tea. The exact timing depends on the weather. Some years the flowers bloom a little earlier, and some years a little later. This year, after a few days of hot sunshine … More A Solstice Tradition: Gathering Tea
There are many traditions tied to the Līgo flower crown. Some say it protects you from misfortune, others believe it brings good luck, love, or even helps you dream of your future. Some wear it just for beauty — to feel a part of nature, even if only for a night. But the one I … More The Crown That Stays
When it comes to making a ziedu vainags (flower crown), you don’t need wire, thread, string, or tape. Nature gives us everything we need. With just wildflowers and smilgas (bentgrass or other strong wild grass), you can make a crown that stays firm, holds its shape beautifully, and brings joy both in midsummer and long … More Make your own Flower Crown!
After the summer solstice celebrations, our home always feels a bit enchanted, filled with lingering scents of wilting birch trees – meijas (in Latvian), drying flower crowns, and wildflowers & grasses slowly fading in every vase. This year, my bouquet of Jāņu zāles brought a little extra magic I hadn’t expected. I had carefully gathered … More The Magic Dust of Līgo!
What a magical celebration we had! 🌿☀️ Let’s start with Linna’s Rhubarb pie, it was delicious. You can find the recipe here: Perfect Rhubarb custard pie. Yesterday we welcomed Līgo night with what might have been the biggest bonfire we’ve ever made – seriously, it was huge! Flames reaching high into the sky, sparks dancing in … More Our Līgo and Jāņi – Bonfire, Tradition, and Trout!
The scent of blooming meadows, bonfires waiting to be lit, flower crowns drying on the table, and songs quietly echoing from a speaker in the kitchen… It’s almost Jāņi, and we’re getting ready in the most traditional way we know. One of the first things on my list each year is Jāņu siers – that … More Latvian Midsummer Cheese
The June solstice is almost here. On Saturday, June 21st, 2025, at 05:42 in the morning, the sun will reach its highest point over Gulbene—and we’ll be living our longest day of the year. It’s hard to ignore. The light stretches forever. Evening feels like afternoon, and morning arrives so early that the birds start … More The Longest Day – Summer Solstice in Latvia