1) Riga was the largest city in the Swedish Kingdom in the 17th century. 2) While Latvian and Lithuanian languages are related, some words have different meanings, like "ir" meaning "and" in Lithuanian but "is" in Latvian. 3) The document presents various facts about Latvian culture, history and traditions, including their similarities to other European cultures, Latvia's colonial history, and unique traditions like mushroom picking and "cemetery festivities."

1. SOME EXCITING FACTS ABOUT
LATVIA AND LATVIANS

2. DID YOU KNOW?
Riga was
the biggest
city in
Swedish
Kingdom
in 17th
century?

3. DID YOU KNOW?
Nevertheless Latvian and
Lithuanian languages are of
the same language branch,
some of the words have quite
different meaning
(e.g.“ir”(and) in Lithuanian
means “is” in Latvian. So in
Lithuanian “Romeo ir
Džuljeta” (Romeo and Juliet),
read in Latvian means
“Romeo is Juliet” – quite
confusing!

4. DID YOU KNOW?
Latvians probably have been living in
Turkey? Which is justified by having the
similar names of towns in Latvia and
Turkey  (Kemer – Ķemeri/ Kekova –
Ķekava) and that Turkish people have
been living in Latvia? We have 2 villages
called Turki (translated “Turkish”)

5. DID YOU KNOW?
Both Riga and Bucharest are sometimes called “Little
Paris” because of their architecture
RIGA BUCHAREST

6. DID YOU KNOW?
That several of “traditional” Latvian food items
are the same as traditional German food –
Sauerkraut, pork, sausages etc.

7. DID YOU KNOW?
Latvians must be ancient Italians, otherwise
why we would greet each other with “Čau”
(ciao)

8. DID YOU KNOW?
Like Bulgaria has Golden sands resort, Latvia has a lot
of sand in Jurmala resort. And by the way - houses here
are as expensive as in Monaco

9. DID YOU KNOW?
Latvia like Spain was a colonial country. Part of Latvia
–Duchy of Courland – had colonies in South America -
Tobago Island and in Africa – an island in the delta of
river Gambia

10. DID YOU KNOW?
About 90% of Slovenian territory is about 300
metres above the sea level unlikely 90% of
Latvia’s territory is lower than 300 metres
above the sea level
GAIZIŅŠ TRIGLAV

11. DID YOU KNOW?
Latvians have some crazy traditions:
 We go crazy on summer solstice on June 24. Towns
get empty. Everyone jumps into car and disappears
into country side where we drink a lot of beer, jump
over fireplace, sing, go swimming naked and “look
for the flower of fern”

12. DID YOU KNOW?
We are passionate to pick up wild mushrooms. On a
sunny autumn weekend you could find more people
in the forest than on the main street of town. We even
have championships on “mushrooming” at night

13. DID YOU KNOW?
 Maybe the craziest
tradition by it’s name
is “Cemetery
festivities”, events that
gather relatives from
all over country at the
graves of their parents,
relatives.
 Latvians perhaps are the only nation on earth who
finish phone conversation in 3 languages: Labi – davai
– čau (labi – давай – ciao)

14. DID YOU KNOW?
 We are pagans in our hearts. We do not celebrate
Christmas but Winter festivity (Ziemassvētki), no
Easter instead - Bigdays (Lieldienas). Our holy
animals are adder and toad and on autumn nights
we used to lay tables for the spirits of our ancestors

15. Do’s in communication with Latvian
 We love signed papers.
 Most of Latvians speak
Russian and English, some
also speak German, French
and Spanish
 We are peaceful nation. We
had “Singing revolution” and
“Umbrella revolution”

16. Do’s in communication with
Latvian
 Using email is quite common with us,
and we even respond to emails 
 We are serious about food. Let us eat
in quite. It’s been thought to us since
childhood: “When I am eating, I am
deaf and mute”. By the way - food left
on a dish might be perceived as
disrespect to the hostess
 Be patient. It takes time to become
friends with us.

17. Do’s in communication with
Latvian
 Latvia is a very small
nation, it usually takes
only 2 persons to know
to arrange a meeting
with a President
 Don’t be surprised
facing a young blonde
women leading a large
company or ministry,
you should take her
seriously and
communicate as equal.

18. Don’ts in communication with a
Latvian
Do not expect wild emotions
in a public event. To your
question: “Do you have any
questions”, you might hear a
total silence.
But absolute opposite you
will see on a hockey game –
Latvian fans are the loudest
and numerous on any play
with our team participation
(at the same time – no
hooligans!)

19. Don’ts in communication with a Latvian
 Even at the best event, meal
etc. we will find some
“BUT ...” It’s because we love
to be so critical.
 Don’t be surprised that not so
many Latvians use Facebook,
we have our own
www.draugiem.lv (and
typically for us - it is
accessible only with
invitations)

20. Don’ts in communication with a
Latvian
 Don’t try to speak with
us Russian when we are
abroad, many Latvians
might act like they don’t
understand you
 It is a mistake to perceive
Baltic countries as one
entity. We are all very
different from each
other.

21. Don’ts in communication with a
Latvian
 When speaking to a
Latvian, don’t come too
close. We need private
large space. It comes
from our traditional
lifestyle – living in
homesteads not in
villages.
 Don’t be surprised that
a typical Latvian would
not know its neighbour
in multi-storey house.