Latvia : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

Special Events : At 1:00 a.m. local times

School holidays :

Culture :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Catholic or protestant : Remembrance of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Secular holiday : paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Www.izm.gov.lv
official calendar gazetted by the Ministry of Education
all study programs are aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
Number of teaching days: 165-170
PISA ranking (average 493): 490
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Average class size: more than 16
Usually no school on Saturday
Uniform may be required

We carry confirmed dates till July 2024

Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
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cards/flowers : Introduced by Pope Gelasus in 498, perhaps in response to a local Roman tradition of lovers writing their names on an urn in February

cards/flowers : Patron saint of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia

School holidays : One week later for 12th grade

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.

Special Events : At 1:00 am local times