Five for Friday, 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas edition
Only
two days left in the countdown! With everyone in the throes of final
preparations before Christmas Eve, I leave you with these five links on Day 23
of the 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas...
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| Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, represented by MSI Christmas trees |
1.
Estonia and Latvia have kicked it up a notch with the feud over which was the
site of the world’s first decorated Christmas tree. Rīga says it was first, in
1510, Tallinn claims a much earlier tree (1441), and Lithuania, “though (it)
has no claim to the first Christmas tree… hopes to compete with even larger and
more elaborate presentations…” Read all about it in yesterday’s New York Times
article “Who Tossed on the First Tinsel? Two Baltic Capitals Disagree.” Then eat
some piparkūkas and wish your Baltic
neighbors priecīgus Ziemassvētkus, putting
the feud off until next year.
2. The
Latvian and Estonian winter solstice celebrations often feature mummers, costumed
figures who are thought to bless the households they visit, encourage
fertility, and frighten away evil spirits. Meanwhile in Austria, the
traditional “Perchten” groups are also chasing away the evil winter ghosts…
3. Need some last minute gift tags? Print out a few sheets of these holiday gift tags by Phoebe Wahl from Taproot magazine! Although a bit more Nordic than Baltic, they’ll holidize and festivate your packages in no time, helping to bling in the New Year...
4. These photographs by Alexey Kljatov feature snowflakes in extreme close-up, the
natural symmetry astounding in detail. View the gallery before going out to
shovel snow…
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| source here |
5.
Finally, the Christmas card of Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid is called
'We Are Stronger Together.' The card was drawn by illustrator Kärt Einasto and
the soundtrack is by Maarja Nuut, the arrangement of her song Õdangule specifically made for the occasion.
That's all for today. We’ll
see you tomorrow on the final day of our countdown to a Baltic Christmas!
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