The night to connect with nature and to draw from its strength 

The summer solstice holiday is the most popular celebration in Latvia and also one of the oldest.  The time when the shortest night meets the longest day – June 23rd and 24th (which are official holidays) – is spent in the Latvian countryside, close to nature, gathering wildflowers, weaving wreaths, gathering around campfires and as a challenge of fortitude jumping over them, enjoying Jāņu cheese and beer, singing songs and remaining awake all night to greet the new day.

The pagan gods of the past have not been forgotten – Jāņi is a celebration of fertility and Life. Thus, the wreaths of wildflowers and oak leaves are symbolically offered to the gods of fertility.  In this shortest night, one must try to find in the forest the main symbol of the Jāņi mystery – a flowering fern.  Jānis is also the most popular name in Latvia.