Today on 24 Days of a Baltic
Christmas we welcome Lelde, writer at the blog Life in Riga. Designed to help
you move to, live in, appreciate and understand Latvia and its residents, the
blog was created to show readers the “real Rīga,” and has everything from tales
of the Latvian passport office to interviews with folks that have moved to LV
from all over the world. Who better to give us the scoop on the holidays in Rīga?! Without further ado, here’s Lelde on Jarmarka!
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| Photo credit Ģirts Raģelis, LIAA |
Twice
a year I find myself opening what is probably Riga's heaviest door to enter a
different and very beautiful world - the Art Academy of Latvia. The first time
is in February for the academy's annual party night and what happens there
shall certainly stay there. However, the second occasion is one I'm much more
keen to talk about - Jarmarka - the student and graduate art fair. Note, it's
actually pronounced Yarmarka.
During
Jarmarka (which takes places in December), the academy open its doors to gift-seekers
and art collectors looking to spot the next rising star or pick up a
rare-to-come-by piece by an established young artist. Think paintings, sketches,
fashion samples, jewelry and homeware. It's heaven! Visitors can freely browse
the selection of goods which is restocked quite regularly so you can keep
coming back. Prices vary and I wouldn't call them cheap, but they shouldn't be
since everything is produced by hand.
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| Photo credit Ģirts Raģelis, LIAA |
In
previous years I've picked up a drawing which still makes me smile every time I
glance at it on my bathroom wall, brooches and earrings which have traveled to
friends and family in Australia and other far corners of the world, and dishes
I've filled with candy and given as Christmas gifts. There's no shortage of
talented Latvians, and the academy seems very good at nurturing these talents.
The
atmosphere at the fair is always really pleasant. It can get crowded so you may
end up rubbing shoulders with the person next to you while you're both
rummaging through piles of pottery or boxes of sketches, but it's nothing like
the videos you see of Black Friday sales across the world!
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| Photo Ernests Dinka, LMA |
Jarmarka
is a great alternative or an addition to Riga's more "traditional"
Christmas markets in the neighbouring Esplanāde park, on Dome Square and Līvu
Square. In 2017, it's on from December 20th to 30th. Enjoy! Or plan your visit
in time for next year's edition.
Lelde Benke is a 29-year-old
Latvian and a copywriter of sorts, fortunate enough to have lived in Rīga,
Melbourne, Edinburgh, Brussels and Quebec City. She works in tourism marketing
promoting Latvia to people who have a vague idea of where it is and what it’s
all about. For more from Lelde, please visit her blog Life in Riga, and you can
follow along on Facebook and Instagram! For info on Jarmarka, please visit the official website www.jarmarka.org!
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| Venus of Willendorf 21st century by Brigitta Zelča in front of the Art Academy |
Tomorrow we will journey to
Atlanta, GA for Kūčios on Day 7 of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas… See you there?
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