Latvia issued a €0.50 self-adhesive stamp on 13th June shaped like a crown of flowers. These crowns are worn during the country’s midsummer festivals, Ligo and Jani. The stamp features a crown made out of different flowers from Latvia and is designed by Girts Griva.

Jani is an annual festival which celebrates the summer solstice. The solstice falls on 21st or 22nd June, but Ligo and Jani Days are observed on 23rd and 24th June, respectively. Ligosvetki is the name given to the day before Jani.

People from all over the country gather near the countryside on Jani. They eat, drink, sing and celebrate the solstice by following ancient folk traditions that are associated with prosperity and fertility. Circular wreaths made of flowers, grasses and oak leaves. Wreaths made of twenty-seven flowers and herbs are considered to be auspicious. Wreaths of oak leaves are worn by men denoting the strength of oak trees. Oak wreaths bring in blessings of horses and bees. Jani cheese, fires and wreaths symbolise the sun.

Image Courtesy: Latvian Post