Baltic Christmas Day 24 - Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus!

Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! Linksmų Kalėdų! Häid jõule!

Once again, I would like to extend an enormous paldies to everyone who has contributed to this series; in the form of posts, photographs, illustrations, interviews and ideas. As to the readers, the friends who commented and translated, and those who put me in contact with bloggers and authors all over the world, I am so very grateful – the series would not have been a success without you. Special mention to artist ZILGMA for the uniquely Baltic logo (she’s also my ‘phone-a-friend’ for culinary questions!), and to I&G for the help brainstorming DIY Baltic gift ideas – that was fun! As always, thank you to Roberts and the boys for their patience with me while I immerse myself in the world of Baltic Christmas.

On this final day of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas, a review of all the wonderful contributions we’ve seen this month! On Day 2 we took a look at all the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Christmas markets taking place across the US, Canada, Australia and Europe.

On Day 3 we welcomed Andārte Phillips and the students of Krišjāņa Barona Latviešu Skola with their recipe for rupjmaizes kārtojums, the iconic traditional Latvian dessert featuring dark rye bread that is considered a classic treasure of Latvian cuisine. Māra Linde returned to the series on Day 4, with the story of how the San Francisco Baltic Christmas Fair came to be.

A collaboration between 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas and Baltic Imports brought us the Baltic Gift Guide 2019 on Day 5. Then on Day 6 food blogger and author Latvian Eats presented the truly traditional Christmas dish of koča or kūķis from her new cookbook Latvian Eats: Soups, Stews & Porridge.

On the 7th day of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas, we took a peaceful walk in the woods. Then on Day 8, a humorous guide to DIY gifts to make for your favorite Balt!

We welcomed back Ilze Ieviņa from the blog Let the Journey Begin on Day 9. Ilze joined us with a traditional Latvian recipe that should be on every holiday table, štovēti kāposti – Latvian Christmas Sauerkraut. Then on Day 10 Nikolajs Timrots introduced us to the Lithuanian dessert grybukai (mushrooms) that are usually in the shape of a baravykas and are stunners on the dessert table.

Annelī’s Vegan Latvian Gingerbread cookies, vegānas piparkūkas made their debut on Day 11, providing a delicious, vegan alternative to the Latvian traditional cookie. Then on Day 12 a round-up of the top cookie recipes from the 6 years the series has been running, for the Baltic Cookie Exchange.

Learn how to make pītes with a traditional Latvian recipe of gray peas, bacon, onions, dill and potatoes on Day 13. Then on Day 14 read about the annual Lithuanian Christmas concert in Chicago, performed by Dainava.

On Day 15 a twist on the traditional gingerbread house with our piparkūku Pulvertornis! Then on Day 16 a favorite contributor, Inga Lucāns, with her recipe for a traditional Baltic fermented beverage, Honey-lemon kvass!

It was across the Atlantic to the UK on Day 17, with Margaret Drummond’s post on Kūčios in London, then and now. And on Day 18, Māra McLaughlin-Taylor shared the ways she has found to enjoy the Baltic winter!

On the final week of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas… On Day 19 we welcomed Adam Rang of the blog Estonian Saunas, for a guide on how to cut down a Christmas tree in Estonia. Then on Day 20, Krista Svalbonas, her husband Lars Alverson, and Dzintra Alverson brought us a Christmas story from the Wentorf displaced-persons camp in Germany, part of the “Displacement” project documenting the DP camps through interviews, photography and art.

The students of Krišjāņa Barona Latvian School of Chicago were the stars of winter solstice, Day 21, with their handmade ķekatas masks. Artist Lāsma Maher led the students in preparing the paper-mâché masks that were worn for the school’s annual Christmas pageant. Then on Day 22, Nikolajs Timrots took us on a tour of the Vilnius Christmas markets!

Finally, on Day 23 – thoughts on the variety of decorations we see in modern-day Baltic homes.

I hope you enjoyed this sixth year of 24 Days of a Baltic Christmas! We’re thankful to once again have been a part of your holiday preparations, and hope you found some Yule/Ziemassvētki/Kūčios spirit here on Femme au Foyer. I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas, and all the best in 2020.