Ūsiņš Day at Ethnographic Open Air Museum

The Ethnographic Open Air Museum invites you to become familiar with the Ūsiņš Day traditions - on the verge of summer, the trees' leaves have already bloomed and farms must begin their spring chores. The Latvian farmers' year starts - they must shepherd their flock, head out for night-watches, sow, and the museum also opens its summer season.

During the festivities, we tell about horses, bees, cows, display farmers' tools, offer to learn about their spring chores, traditions and cuisine, and rejoice over the approaching summer.

According to Latvian beliefs, the Ūsiņš Day celebrates the coming of Ūsiņs - deity of light. Ūsiņš brings the sun, summer, light to triumph over the chill and darkness.

The summer's pasture season also starts with Ūsiņi. Latvians believe that Ūsiņš, just like St. George for other European nations, is the patron saint of horses, and therefore these animals play a special role during the celebrations.