As an American living in Latvia, I was unaware of Kapusvētki. We were trying to get to a Purva taka and had to drive through a kapi. Not knowing it was kapusvētki we got stuck in the middle of a forest ( kapi ) in a traffic jam for hours. Never thought I would get out.

Je suis allé à mon premier Kapusvetki cet été dans la région de Madona/Laudona. En tant que Canadien, j'ai été très touché par cette cérémonie.

Growing up with Latvian immigrant parents there was always a cemetery “ cleaning” up . Now that most of the people that immigrated have died it’s still being done by my relatives who live close by. They are my generation. I would love to learn more so that they, or I, can continue this tradition.

Each time i learn something new about Latvia, i get more excited to live there in the new future. I would love to gather in a graveyard and honor the deceased! I find it very wholesome and if i were to be buried in Latvia, i would want to have my loved ones visit so i can see them having a wonderful time. thank you for the video, i can hardly wait to learn more about my future home!

Congrats to latvians for succeeding to prove that scary tales are wrong and not scary by making a whole new kind of tales .. I really admire how you see death 👉👍 Good Job Germane 👌

Those memes are just priceless.. 😂😂

I was once told by a local Latvian etiquette expert, that the odd/even number of flowers rule only applies till the count of 9. If there are 10 or more flowers in the bouquet, it doesn't matter if you are giving them to your girlfriend or leaving them at the gravesite. Great content, hated going to this "festival" as a kid. Then there is this dumb superstition - don't bring stuff (sticks, stones, pinecones, etc.) from the graveyard to your home or death will follow. Since kids love to collect this kind of stuff, I was repeatedly told to empty my pockets before leaving the cemetery. Oh and the gardening supplies - rakes, shovels, buckets, etc. You name it, Latvians have it in their cemetery. And if you forgot to bring something to tidy up before the great celebration, you can always borrow from your dead neighbors. It's funny to reflect on all of this, but it is 100% true :D

I had a party for my relatives after kapu svetkus at the cemetary.Some folks crashed the party.It is a nice time to remember the folks we lost.It's a bittersweet reunion.

Also special part of those festivals are candles - especially if this happens later in autumn, then it looks specially beautiful.

Actually Latvian "Kapu svētki" is some relict from pagan cult of ancestors. This ancient cult are been changed and readjusted among the centuries but survive. The spirits of Latvian ancestors occasionally visit and supervise the next generation's. Still in middle of nineteenth century for ancestral souls (veļi in Latvian) in the autumn a special feast table was set up in the barn. As already described in video, it has survived today as a tradition of careful grave care and as an event twice a year, once in the summer when organized by a local congregation with the worship and for the second time a candlelight evening in the fall as substitution of previous ancestral souls feasting.

Amazing!! The local Latvian Cultural Centre is sharing this video!🤩🤩🤩🤩🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻🇨🇦🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻

I want a general "Latvian humor" video. That'd be great 😻

Kapu Svetki is the bizarre cultural gift that keeps on giving ... every year :)

Thanks for showing your culture to the world. I'm your subscriber.

Germane is the cute and melodious teacher😆😊😊

This is one of my favourite videos you've made! Returning to the bosom of Mother Earth, ah yes! so beautiful.

That's so cool! Last year I was on the day of the death in Mexico and it's so beautiful how they celebrate death with such a passion!

latvian traditions are more and more interesting each time and confusing, not gonna lie haha

I missed your videos!!! Latvian culture continues to intrigue me....

Another awesome and informative video Anete, appreciate the research and editing you do. Your lighter hair colour suits you...

Guide in dating a Latvian please 🤣🙈 my husband needs it

We're hoping to dedicate the restored tombstone for our artist/ancestor next year in Lielie kapi Riga (if and when Americans are allowed to travel to Latvia) and now we have a better idea of the traditions! Thanks for posting this.

CRAZY! - like it :)

Well, I can't say I ever went near a cemetary in Riga when I was a child (we left Riga when I was 9 years old) as it was not thought proper at that time, 1939, for children to be taken to cemeteries. And Riga was a completely different place with very few influences from Europe or America, although everyone of course did go to see American films, especially the comedies of Laurel and Hardy. Pre second world war Riga ... and the summer resort of Meluzhi where my grandparents had a datcha ... was heaven. It was at that time that special bathing hours were in force, and for a reason. From 8:00 AM-10:00 AM only men were allowed on the beach, and in the nude. A policeman patrolled to make sure the proprieties were followed. At 10:00 AM he blew his whistle and the men donned clothing and left the beach. This is when the women arrived with their children, all disrobed and enjoyed the beach, naked, for two hours until noon when the policeman blew his whistle and everyone got dressed and went to their datcha to have lunch and a nice, long nap.

Well this makes sense why I am the way I am but nobody in the Latvian Church does this over here! 😂

Yes more Death Humour please? Paldies!

Last year in Aug I was there but didn't know about this festival. but it's wired like The Ma’Nene Festival in Indonesia. But how do you celebrate it ? if you can record a video explaining it. would be fine...!! Père Lachaise, France & Highgate Cemetery, England both in my bucket list !!...

Have you done a video on Latvians issue with throughdrafts? Because apparently that's an issue. One which I've never understood 🤔

Šis labs :)

Hello from Brazil

How about lasers & fireworks? Are they allowed, or depending on the parish? Or just bad taste/manner? Btw, you really should get in depth with the topic of death. At least, six-feet deep 😎

I'd like to know more about death in Latvian humor

graveyard festivals > techno festivals

Would this be comparable to the day of the dead for mexico? :D

I am atheist, I've been going to only clean up the graveyards for about 10 years now. I categorically refuse to go to kapusvētki because my family always flocks to where the priest is and I'm simply just not interested, but doing anything alone in the party is boring. Last time I went to the party I was very little (hence why I found it boring) and I distinctly remember doing anything else, like prancing around (not running because that's rude) or trying to find the edge of the graveyard. My family went to kapusvētki just for the priest, i don't remember a single instance of having a feast/actual party afterwards. I know, boring. It might've played some role in why I am atheist now, but probably not. I've always found religion to be boring and useless, I dont remember ever enjoying it in the first place so.

Hello Kailash I am a good computer networking engineer and want to work in Latvia, so help me

Man šie svētki vienmēr saistījušies ar ticīgajiem, tiem kas apmeklē baznīcu utt. Pa cik savu dzīvi ar baznīcas ticību nesaistu, nekad neesmu izrādījusi interesi, apmeklējusi šos svētkus. Kapus var uzkopt jebkurā brīvdienā. Varbūt es kļūdos un tam ar baznīcas ticību nav nekāda sakara?

Yep biju kapu svētkos 2 nedēļas atpakaļ kas ir laukos.

Es bija Kapos un pec to dzeru Alu...

Hungry Latvians at cemetary make delivery order from Mcdonalds. Very uniqe..

at this point.. i expected spanking to be part of the festival 🤷‍♀️