Inta Talks About Celebrations in Her Home

…In our home, 2–3 days beforehand we were already preparing all kinds of dishes. Sometimes, at our house, we ate three times: everyone gathered for dinner around six o’clock and ate the hot meal; then afterwards, the men went off to play cards, the women washed the dishes, and then there was the coffee table; and around two or three in the morning, my mother set out the smorgasbord.

From an interview with Inta Grunde for the museum “Latvians Abroad.” Interviewed by Ieva Vītola in 2016.

A Thin Slice of Lemon and a Sprig of Dill (Ingrīda Hawke)

Ingrīda Hawke describes the Latvian canapes she prepares for festive tables in Melbourne, Australia: classic radish canapes with cottage cheese, salmon with a slice of lemon, ham with mustard …

Amber Table (Dace Gulbe and Inta Grunde)

Dace Gulbe and Inta Grunde have been preparing and setting festive tables for Latvians on the East Coast of the United States for about 20 years with Amber catering company.They talk about the most popular foods they make (pīrāgi!), about their cooking process, and also share their experience of how it was recently when the President visited Priedaine and they prepared the food for the event.

Hostesses in Latvian Communities Abroad: in Different Times and Countries. Photographs From the Collection of the Museum Latvians Abroad.

This gallery features photographs of festive tables from Latvian communities in different countries and periods.

Festive Tables of Latvian Communities Abroad: in Different Times and Countries. Photographs From the Collection of the Museum Latvians Abroad.

In Latvian communities outside Latvia, it is customary to offer a plentiful table at festive events. The food is prepared in various ways — participants may bring baskets with homemade treats, or a ladies’ committee may take responsibility for setting the table. For private celebrations, Latvian catering companies often prepare the food.

Ladies’ Committee Canapé Party! (Inta Šķiņķis)

Inta Šķiņķis hosted a birthday party with a Ladies’ Committee canapé theme! She invited everyone to revisit childhood memories and bring a plate of Ladies’ Committee canapés in two categories: traditional Ladies’ Committee canapés and modern interpretations in a global style. The event also included a competition, awards were given for best traditional canapé, best modern interpretation, best taste, and best appearance.

Ladies’ Committees Helped Maintain the Latvian Community (Aija Abens)

A richly set table is an indispensable part of these celebrations. It is prepared in various ways – sometimes participants arrive with baskets of their own homemade treats, including savory and sweet snacks, decorative “pretty buns,” curd or apple pies, Russian-style salads, and other dishes. Other times, the tables are arranged by the hosts – dedicated and warm-hearted women’s groups, such as church or Latvian society committees, who, in addition to other responsibilities, take care of the event’s decorations and food. These women, often working behind the scenes, are nonetheless the cornerstone of these events, bringing warmth, order, and the true taste of the holidays to Latvian communities abroad.

Mom Runs Around the Stores Looking for the “Right” Kind of Cabbage

Inese Šteinbaha: We make our own sauerkraut. My mom, Māra Rozenberga, is the one running around the stores looking for the right kind of cabbage. She knows exactly what they should be like. We even have our own cabbage slicer, brought from Latvia.

The Salmon Looks Like it’s Swimming! (Ingrīda Hawke)

Ingrīda Hawke sets tables for the Australian Latvian community — for weddings, funerals, and anniversaries. In this interview excerpt, she describes her own festive table creations: one of the main elements is often a salmon, baked in such a way that it looks as if it’s swimming!

How Can You Shred Cabbage Without Having a Beer? (Pēteris Freimanis)

Pēteris Freimanis shares childhood memories of his grandmother’s sauerkraut and tells how he began fermenting cabbage himself, inspired by his friend Aigars. This activity has become a tradition for him.