In early February, Riga will host the 28th International Festival of Mask Traditions alongside the traditional celebration of Meteņi, Latvia’s ancient festival marking the farewell to winter and the welcoming of spring. This three-day cultural event will bring together Latvian and international masking traditions, folklore, music and rituals, while also offering a contemporary perspective on intangible cultural heritage.
At the heart of the festival will be Latvian Meteņi traditions and the country’s rich masking culture. At the same time, the festival will provide an international platform for discovering winter masking traditions from different cultures, encouraging cultural dialogue and the exchange of experience.
5 February – International Mask Day
The festival will open on 5 February at Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums), with a special focus on the masking traditions presented by international guests. Visitors will have an opportunity to discover the masking cultures of China, Romania and Lithuania, including their distinctive masks, costumes, music, dances and rituals. The programme will also feature performances by some of Latvia’s most prominent traditional mask groups.
6 February – Meteņi Celebrations in Riga Old Town
The festival’s main day will be 6 February, when traditional Meteņi celebrations will take place at Town Hall Square and elsewhere in Riga Old Town from 12:00 to 18:00. More than 200 members of folklore ensembles and mask groups from different regions of Latvia will join the festival’s international guests in creating a colourful and vibrant Meteņi atmosphere.
One of the day’s most visually impressive events will be a major Meteņi ritual and masked parade, bringing together mask groups from Latvia and abroad. The parade will follow the route: Town Hall Square – Kaļķu iela – Skārņu iela – Audēju iela – Vaļņu iela – Kaļķu iela – Līvu Square – Town Hall Square. Visitors are encouraged to come wearing a mask or create one on site, whether traditional or contemporary.
Throughout the day, Town Hall Square will host traditional masked performances, strength competitions, creative workshops, a Shrovetide market, sled rides and festive treats.
Līvu Square will transform into a Latgalian Farmstead, where several groups from Latgale will introduce visitors to Meteņi, known in their region as Aizgavēnis. From 12:00 to 15:00, Latgalian folklore groups will invite visitors to celebrate in true Latgalian spirit, with plenty of singing, dancing and merrymaking.
7 February – Regional Masking Traditions in Riga Old Town
Sunday’s programme is planned to begin with several masked processions setting out from different locations. Mask groups and folklore ensembles will travel to Riga Old Town by public transport, involving fellow passengers and visitors they meet along the way in the festivities.
Līvu Square will become the festival’s central meeting place, bringing together folklore ensembles, mask groups, regional traditions, traditional games and the distinctive flavours of the Meteņi season.
Sunday will also be a day for boasting, with folklore groups from Latvia’s regions, artists, Riga Old Town businesses and restaurant owners all invited to take part. In the Meteņi tradition, boasting was not considered a sin but a way of attracting good fortune and success.