Baltic Christmas Day 4 - ImantaDimanta and Friends!

ImantaDimanta drops an exclusive Christmas track on Day 4 of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas!

Just for 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas, I am thrilled to present, Kas pie Rīgas dumpējās,  by ImantaDimanta!!!

Even more exciting is the release of the 2018 ImantaDimanta CENTENNIAL TOUR dates! The band will be touring America, coming to a city near you to celebrate Latvia's 100 year anniversary, as reported to us by Marisa Gudrā, Project Coordinator for the American Latvian Association.

The Latvian “post-folk” group ImantaDimanta & Friends is embarking on a U.S. concert tour, with stops among various Latvian community centers, as well as other cultural centers and music clubs. Stops include (and will be updated in the coming weeks, so check back here):

WASHINGTON (ROCKVILLE, MD) on Friday, March 2

GREENVILLE, SC on Sunday, March 4

HOUSTON, TX on Wednesday, March 7

LOS ANGELES on Saturday, March 10

SAN FRANCISCO on Sunday, March 11

SEATTLE on Saturday, March 17

DENVER (LAKEWOOD, CO) on Friday, March 23

LINCOLN, NE on Saturday, March 24

MINNEAPOLIS (ST PAUL, MN) on Sunday, March 25 

MILWAUKEE on Tuesday, March 27

CHICAGO on Wednesday, March 28

KALAMAZOO on Saturday, March 31 

DETROIT on Sunday, April 1

CLEVELAND (LAKEWOOD, OH) on Monday, April 2

NEW YORK on Wednesday, April 4

BOSTON (BROOKLINE, MA) on Friday, April 6 

PHILADELPHIA, PA on Saturday, April 7

PRIEDAINE (Freehold, NJ) on Sunday April 8

The ImantaDimanta & Friends CENTENNIAL TOUR will be the largest national cultural event in the U.S. commemorating the year of the Latvian Centennial – other than Latvian Independence Day. With musicians from the U.S., Germany and three from Latvia, ImantaDimanta & Friends is a testament to the fact that Latvians all over the world can understand and collaborate. Together they produce great music that will carry Latvia’s name out into the world.

In  May  2017 the  band released their first album, Izauga  mātei  brīnuma  meita (“The mother raised  a  wonderful  daughter”), which features a range of songs: some interpretations of traditional  Latvian folk songs and others inspired by Latvian folk texts (dainas) and set to original music.

The new CD, Izauga mātei brīnuma meita

There is still time to give someone #imantadimanta music for the holidays this year! You can find the new CD Izauga  mātei  brīnuma  meita on Bandcamp, iTunes and Google Play. Be sure to check out their YouTube channel for an intro video and tracks not on the disc!

The ImantaDimanta & Friends CENTENNIAL TOUR is organized by the American Latvian Association (ALA) and sponsored by the ALA Centennial Fund. While the American Latvian Association is the largest umbrella organization for Latvians in the U.S., and frequently sponsors events and concerts with a Latvian focus, this marks the first time that the non-profit organization is coordinating a full-scale national concert tour of the U.S. In the past year, ALA has taken the lead in raising and distributing funds for Latvian Centennial events that will be held independently by a multitude of organizations and individuals in the U.S. Alongside these (typically community-based or regional) events, the details of which can be found on latvia100usa.org, ALA finds it important to offer the American public an event of its own, with an ambitious goal. ALA aims to spread Latvian folk music far and wide, as well as to bring together Latvians of different American cities with a shared experience in the year of the Centennial!

Traveling with the group in their national tour will be an exhibit sponsored by the Latvian Ministry of Culture called “Treasures of Latvia”, which illustrates some of the talents and exports that have made a name for Latvia in world markets.

We welcome indie folk music-lovers of all backgrounds (Latvian or non-Latvian) to the shows in March 2018! All of the group’s members speak English and have incorporated into their repertoire a vast array of adaptations of American classics. While performing, the band can communicate with the audience in numerous languages, such as - Latvian, English, German, French and Russian. Everyone will find something to love in ImantaDimanta’s energetic live performance and bluegrass-inspired sounds!

Thanks to ImantaDimanta and Friends for the exclusive track, Kas pie Rīgas dumpējās!!! I hope you’ll head over to their Facebook page to stay up-to-date on the most recent info on the U.S. tour and their Rīga shows, and of course pick up their Izauga mātei brīnuma meita disc – one for yourself, one for a friend!

IMANTADIMANTA & FRIENDS!

(left to right)

Imanta Nīgale – vocals, mandolin

Kristaps Strods – bass

Krišjānis Sils – guitar

Matīss Uškāns – drums

Katrīna Dimanta – vocals, violin

  

Thank you to ALA and Marisa Gudrā, Projects Coordinator for the American Latvian Association, for sharing the release of the 2018 ImantaDimanta & Friends CENTENNIAL TOUR dates!

Join us tomorrow on Day Five for the 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas gift guide!

Baltic Christmas Day 3 - A pig's head for a winter solstice dinner

Since ancient times, Latvians have celebrated Christmas for three days. On December 24^th, ķūķis (also known as koča, a porridge of sorts) had the place of honor on the table, as grain dishes symbolized the continuity of life and the showed respect for our ancestors, whose spirit of grace in this way we sought to inherit.

      Ak tu lielu brīnumiņu,

      Pilni galdi piekravāti:

      Cūkas kājas, šņukurītis,

      Bieza putra vidiņā.

The Christmas table was lavishly set, with grey peas, beans, pigskin soup, pork sausages, chicken roast, pickled cabbage, stewed salmon and carrots, oven-baked potatoes, pies and round currant that symbolized the sun. It was mandatory to have bread, salt and fire on the table, which promised a blessing for the coming year. Another holiday staple was the pig’s head… Today we welcome Ilze Kļaviņa with her recipe for cūkas šnukurs!

      Ko mēs, bērni, ēdīsim

      Ziemassvētku vakarā?

      Būs zirnīši, būs pupiņas,

      Būs cūciņas šņukuriņš.

Photo credit: Visi svētki vienuviet

It's time to start thinking about what will be on your feast table. A pig's head (cūkas galva or cūkas šnukurs) is one of the traditional Latvian holiday foods. Often they are not easy to find, so it's time to get to work!

First, decide if you want your cūkas šnukurs fresh-roasted, or smoked. The fresh one can usually be found in a new immigrant area grocery store; Asian and Mexican markets are a good bet, and most often they offer frozen heads. Look for one with the skin on, as well as both ears. Sometimes ½ heads are available, but usually you’ll have a choice between a small, medium or large. 

A fresh head will be prepared as a roast, in a pan, in the oven. We have always preferred a smoked head, but those are harder to find; they should be ordered about 3 weeks in advance (so start looking now!) and cost upwards of $30 USD. Check with your local butchers, friends that do smoking, farms where you can order a whole butchered hog, etc. Keep asking them who else you can call!

Keep in mind you want the whole head, with skin and ears on. (I've been told Wisconsin has a law preventing sale of pork with skin on, I don't know why!) I'll keep my fingers crossed (turēšu īkšķus, “hold my thumbs"!) that you can find and order exactly what you want.

A smoked head will arrive, smelling heavenly! To cook it, do not roast it. Do Not Roast It! If you roast it, it’ll get rock hard, and that's that. Instead, you will have locate/borrow a big kettle that will fit the entire head, as a smoked pig's head with ears on is sort of pyramid shaped, and is hard to fit into any home cooking pot. Maybe you can borrow one from a church kitchen? The big pot will contain the smoked head, some 3-4 carrots, 1-2 onions, celery if you like it, whole peppercorns (20 +or-) and 3-4 bay leaves. Cut up the vegetables in chunks, and add to your pot with enough water to cover, then set the pot to boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and let it cook for 2-3 hours.

Now comes the hard part, getting the head out of the bullion. I encourage you to get help with this, and use any kitchen tools that you have. Allowing some time for the pot to begin to cool before removing the contents will make this process a little safer, with less chance of boiling bullion scalding the chef. However you’ll want to save the bullion, as it is a wonderful base for all sorts of soups and stews you might make, all winter long. Have lots of jars on hand, and store in freezer until needed. A freezer space saver is to allow bullion to cool, pour into Ziploc freezer bags, and stack flat.

The head is best served warm, so you will have to time the cooking accordingly. We usually serve it on a cutting board, or large platter. Every part of the skin and meat is edible, and usually one of the kids wants to keep the skull for the fun of it. The cheeks will seem to be all fat, but it's a different consistency than bacon fat. Don't forget the tongue - 100% meat!

Cūkas šņukurs can be served with a choice of mustards and/or horseradish. Other recipes may call for garlic, or suggest using chicken stock instead of water – all variations are good. The results are basically a big pot of meat in aspic, but do serve the head first!

Ilze is a saimniece in Minneapolis who celebrates Latvian saulgrieži with her family in the Dievturu tradition. Ilze wrote "mani vecāki teica, 'pirmos svētkos mēs svinam mājās, otros svētkos braucam ciemos'"... How many days does your family celebrate Christmas? 

A sincere thank you to Ilze for sharing this recipe with us! Please join us tomorrow with a surprise appearance by one of our favorite Baltic bands on Day Four of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas!

Baltic Christmas Day 2 - The Holiday Markets

While living in Chicago I always looked forward to December and the various Christmas tirdziņi that would take place on the weekends. The several churches would each have a Christmas bazaar one December weekend, and the Latvian School would host theirs on the third Saturday. Although these markets are the perfect place to pick up beautiful handmade gifts, there’s always the lure of tortes and pīrāgi for those already finished with their holiday shopping!

Photo source: Northern California Latvian Association Baltic Christmas Fair

Whether you are looking for traditional Baltic jewelry, linen textiles, ceramic art or just a few trimmings for your tree, here’s your chance! There are a few cities that host their markets in November*, but with more than a dozen tirdziņi still to come there is plenty of time to score the perfect Lithuanian, Estonian or Latvian present! Events are listed by date and alphabetical order by state (or country/city).

Today, December 2nd

Australia (Adelaide): 2-5pm Latvian Federation of South Australia Christmas fair (source)

U.K. (London): 10am-4pm The Latvian Daugavas Vanagi annual holiday market to include concert by “Kokļu zapte” and folk dancing by the London Latvian school (source)

CA (San Francisco): 10am-4pm 4^th Annual Baltic Christmas Fair (source)

CO (Lakewood): The Colorado Latvians Christmas bazaar starts at 10am (source)

IL (Chicago): Not a market, but a wonderful opportunity to take home traditional Lithuanian holiday ornaments: "Learn how to create beautiful Lithuanian straw Christmas ornaments at this year's Straw Christmas Ornament Workshop at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture" (source)
IL (Lemont): 9am-4pm: A merry holiday market at the Lithuanian World Center (source)

IL (Wood Dale): 9am-4pm The St. Peter’s Latvian Church bazaar

MI (Kalamazoo): 10am-2pm The Kalamazoo Latvians will host the 55th annual European Christmas Bazaar at the Latvian Center (source)

MN (Minneapolis): 11am-3pm Latvian Ev. Luth. Church Christmas Bazaar (source)

NY (NYC): 3-5pm NY Estonian House annual Jõululaat (source)

OR (Portland): 10am-4pm Ziemassvētku tirdziņš hosted by the Oregon Latvian Society (source)

PA (Quakertown): 10-6pm Kringle Christmas Shoppe (source)

PA (Philadelphia): 12-6pm The Latvian Society Winter Holiday Fair and Market (source)

WI (Milwaukee): 10-3pm Milwaukee Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Holy Trinity Church Holiday Cookie and Gift Fair (source)

Sunday, December 3^rd

Canada (Vancouver): 12:15pm: Kuldse Klubi jõululaat / Pensioner’s Club Christmas Bazaar (source)

CA (Los Angeles): 11am-2pm Estonian House annual Jõululaat hosted by the Estonian Society of LA (source)

CA (Los Angeles): The South-California Latvian Society hosts the Christmas fair at the Latvian Center (source)

CO (Lakewood): The Colorado Latvians Christmas bazaar starts at 11am (source)

IL (Chicago): 9:30am The Latvian Daugavas Vanagi Christmas bazaar
IL (Lemont): 10am-3pm: A merry holiday market at the Lithuanian World Center (source)

MA (Brookline): 12-2pm The Boston Latvian Church Christmas Bazaar (source)

MD (Rockville): 12pm Washington DC Latvian Lutheran Church annual Christmas Bazaar

PA (Quakertown): 10-4pm Kringle Christmas Shoppe (source)

NY (Melville): 10:30am The NY Latvian Ev. Lutheran congregation’s annual Christmas bazaar at the Salas Church (source)

Saturday, December 9th

Canada (Montreal): 1-5pm: Jõulu Basaar, the annual Christmas bazaar hosted by the Montreal Estonian Society

Canada (Toronto): 12-4pm Rahvajõulupuu 2017 / An Estonian Christmas at the Toronto Estonian House (source)

NY (NYC): 12pm Holiday market in the Daugavas Vanagu nams including concert by saxophone player Alex and DJ Michael (source)

Sunday, December 10th

IL (Chicago): 9am Ciānas annual Christmas market with performances by Stariņš and the Čikāgas bērnu ansamblis! 

MD (Baltimore): 12-4pm Baltimorės Lietuvių Namuose Kalėdinė Mugė hosted by the Lithuanian Hall of Baltimore (source)

CA (Los Angeles): 12-4pm Marytės Kalėdinę Mugę - lietuvišką Kalėdinį kaimelį at the Lithuanian House in LA (source)

Saturday, December 16th

IL (Chicago): 9am-3pm The Latvian School of Chicago’s annual Christmas bazaar (source)

Denmark (Velje): 2-6pm Latviešu-dāņu biedrības Ziemassvētku eglīte un tirdziņš (source)

U.K. (London): 11am-4:30pm Kalėdinė Mugė hosted by LT Baltic events at the Chandos Community Center in Leyton (source)

Sunday, December 17^th

Australia (Melbourne): 12:30-2pm Melbourne Lithuanian Club’s Prieškalėdinis Turgelis (source)

Please comment if you know of any Baltic Christmas markets/bazaars that I have missed – I will add them as I get them and I thank you in advance for your help!

Please, shop local and shop thoughtful this holiday season! Supporting the local tirdziņi is a great way to support the local craftspeople who are making traditional Baltic jewelry, textile goods and other handmade products, and not only do you get presents out of the deal, you also get fresh piparkūkas, oftentimes a warm lunch, and the company of other Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians in this very merry holiday season! Cheerful shopping and welcome back tomorrow on Day Three of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas for insight into one of the most curious of holiday foods…

  

* For future knowledge, those considering attending a Baltic Christmas market in November should look into the dates for the following:

- The Estonian House in Riverwoods, IL hosts the International Christmas Market “Jõululaat” on what is usually the second Saturday of the month. Holiday fun with Baltic and Scandinavian flare! (source)

- The Seattle Latvian Christmas Bazaar at the Latvian Cultural Center is often on the second weekend of November. (source)

Baltic Christmas Day 1 - A giveaway!

Welcome back to 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas! This year we have a variety of Baltic authors, bloggers, musicians, artists and photographers joining us to bring you 24 days of Lithuanian, Estonian and Latvian-inspired posts, featuring mouthwatering recipes, beautiful photos of holidays in the Baltics, and a daily dose of days-leading-up-to-Christmas anticipation!

Please join me in kicking off the 2017 version of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas with a giveaway! I have a magnet with the 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas logo (artwork by Inga @ zilgma) to help brighten the days in advance of the holidays. Just comment on this post for a chance to win (and remember, if you’re commenting with the ‘anonymous’ function, please remember to include your name and a way for me to get in touch).

 

New this year is the 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas Facebook page, where you will find a curated selection of Baltic holiday photos, recipes, articles and other links to help you find inspiration and magic in the coming month. For a chance to win a second magnet, follow 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas on Facebook, like the giveaway post, and tag a friend who you think would enjoy a bit of a Baltic Christmas in their feed! The giveaway will be open until midnight Friday, December 8th, and I'll announce the winners of both magnets on Sunday, December 10th.

Find your local Latvian, Lithuanian or Estonian Christmas market on Day 2 of #24DaysofaBalticChristmas! (Link in bio)

A post shared by Liene • Upstate Mom Outdoors (@femmefoyer) on Dec 2, 2016 at 6:02am PST

For those of you on Twitter and Instagram, please consider following me (@FemmeFoyer) and using #24DaysofaBalticChristmas when tagging your Baltic holiday photos. You can also follow the 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas board on pinterest, where you’ll find recipes, crafts and other inspirational pins to help count down the days until Christmas.

And as always, you may sign up for the posts to be delivered directly to your inbox. (Look for the box on the right hand side that says 'follow by email,’ enter your email address and click ‘submit’!

I’m very excited about everything we have lined up for you this month! Happy December, and please join us tomorrow on Day 2 of a Baltic Christmas, for a list of markets and bazaars taking place throughout the month offering up Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian goods…

Disney on Ice Presents Frozen!

Mickey and Minnie Mouse are in town for Disney on Ice at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena! Tickets are on sale now for 6 shows, today Nov 24^th through November 26^th, and start at only $15. Shows are at 1pm and 5pm daily, and include 1.5-2 hours of Disney fun for the whole family.

Opening night was Wednesday night, and the boys and I (plus a couple of our favorite Frozen fans!) headed to Bon Secours a little early for a Tweet & Greet with Mickey himself!

Once it was time for the show to start we took our seats and were soon transported to Arendelle for the Frozen extravaganza: “Be a part of Anna’s fearless adventure to find her sister, Queen Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in an eternal winter. Join the hilarious snowman Olaf, rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer sidekick Sven as they help Anna in a race to bring back summer. Encounter Everest-like conditions and mystical trolls as you sing along to Academy Award®-winning songs like Let It Go and ultimately discover true love is the most powerful magic of all. Hosted by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, your whole family will delight in special appearances by stars from Toy Story, Finding Dory, The Lion King and the inspiring Disney Princesses. Experience magic at every turn and create memories to last a lifetime at Disney On Ice presents Frozen - the show worth melting for!”

Between the little girls and boys in the audience belting out “Let It Go,” the dazzling skating and special effects, and the wide ranging cast of Disney characters, we were enthralled from start to finish. Having been my first Disney on Ice experience, I didn’t know what to expect; now I know it isn’t just a show for little girls – it’s fun geared towards the whole family. Just “Let It Go,” and join Mickey, Minnie and Elsa for a great Disney experience at the Frozen Disney on Ice spectacular! 

For ticket and other info, please visit the Disney on Ice Frozen website.