Baltic Christmas Day 21 - Pīrāgi, Piparkūkas and Wine in Seattle

Happy winter solstice!!! Today on the shortest day of the year we welcome two-time contributor to the series, Zinta! A recent transplant to the Seattle area, Zinta brings a fresh look at the Latvian scene there, as well as a fresh set of legs to the folk-dancing troop Trejdeksnītis. Meet some of the vendors at the annual Seattle Latvian Christmas Bazaar as you tour the tirdziņš with our WA correspondent to 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas!

Annual Christmas bazaars in Latvian communities are a typical sight for many cities across North America. Join us as we peek in for a glance of Seattle’s bazaar, which happened this year on the 11th and 12th of November.

  

The Seattle Christmas bazaar is a one-stop shop for all your holiday shopping! Homemade pīragi, tortes, and apple pastries were sold out by the end of each day. All sorts of jewelry, ceramics, books, and knitted scarves & hats were available. The local Latvian folk dance group – Trejdeksnītis – performed on Saturday, partly in preparation for their trip to next summer’s Folk Song and Dance Festival in Latvia. Also exclusive to Seattle’s bazaar was wine tasting in the lower level of the community center, hosted by the Latvian-owned Abbe Vineyard. And when one got exhausted from all the shopping and socializing, traditional Latvian dishes like sausage and sauerkraut were served up in the kitchen.

Vendors interviewed include Alfreds Stinkuls, Trejdeksnītis, and Abbe Vineyard.

Paldies Zinta! It’s nice to see you surrounded with quite a few familiar faces (sveiks krustdēl and tante Zinta!) and good luck with your tautasdeju career!!

This isn't our first trip to Seattle via 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas; for more on the Christmas bazaar visit Day 3 from last year's series. With the tirdziņš taking place in November (and before 24 Days gears up for the season), I think it is lovely to revisit for the charming holiday atmosphere in these last days before Christmas!

Tomorrow on Day 22 of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas we are joined by the organizers of next year’s Folk Song and Dance Festival in Toronto for a look at what they have in store for guests…

Yet Another Baltic Christmas - Day 3 and the Seattle Bazaar

The Seattle Latvians were already gearing up for Christmas during November! As you are headed out to the various holiday markets going on today across the US and Canada (for a list, see yesterday's post to find the one closest to you!), we travel to the west coast for one market that has already occured.... The annual Seattle Latvian Christmas Bazaar took place November 12-13, and here with a look at this annual holiday celebration is Inta Wiest!

This tirdziņš is organized by the Washington State Latvian Association, with its board members assisting in planning and implementation.

Daina & Olga at the Latvian table

“Man pašai patīk skaistie latviešu rokdarbi un tautiskās rotas.” My favorites are the Latvian crafts and ethnic jewelry.

For a wide variety of traditional Latvian, Lithuanian and Livonian jewelry and other art (including works by Alfrēds Stinkuls), visit Baltic Crossroads

“Daudzi nāk labi paēst, pirkt pīrāgus, kūkas un cepumus, baudīt  omulīgo atmosfēru.” Hundreds come to eat a hearty meal, buy pīrāgi, cakes and cookies, to enjoy the cozy atmosphere.

The Latvian school parents run the cookie market

“Katrs tirdziņā var atrast kaut ko savai gaumei un iegādāties jaukas Ziemsvētku dāvanas.” Everyone can find something to suit their style, and to acquire lovely Christmas gifts.

Silvija's Glass Heart / Raksti stiklā

In addition to the Latvian bakery, the event featured Christmas specialty foods to take home, Latvian and modern jewelry, decorative pillows, knit fashions, stuffed toys, etched crystal, Latvian linens, books & handmade goods.

Latitude/longitude necklace by CJseattle.com

There is a Seattle Latvian Christmas Bazaar facebook page that will keep visitors appraised of dates of future Christmas tirdziņi as they are set. Wherever you may be today, I hope you have the chance to enjoy some skābie kāposti and desiņas, pīrāgi and tortes at your local Christmas market! Thank you to Inta for the pictures from the Seattle bazaar, and stay tuned tomorrow for a trip cross-country to Atlanta, Georgia…

Maija, Kristīne, Lisa & Linda at the cake table