How Latvian Christmas is Different than United States

Both the United States (US) and Latvia celebrate Christmas, and yet they offer vastly different experiences for residents and visitors. Comparing and contrasting the two countries based on culture, history, residents, and my experience thus far. I will show just how different and similar they really are in symbolic meaning of Christmas.

Both US and Latvia display decorated Christmas trees. In the United States artificial evergreen trees are wrapped round and round with miniature string lights and loaded with ornaments by the end of November. Ornaments are store bought and nearly every bough hangs something Christmas themed, usually made from glass and other colorful shiny materials. Complete with tree topper sometimes a star or angel.

In Latvia, the first traditional decorated Christmas tree was here. Therefore, real Christmas trees are common around town. They are wrapped in lights with round reflective glass bulbs. The bulbs are larger and vary in sizes and color. Personal Christmas tree is decorated the week of Christmas quite often the day before.

In both countries Christmas lights are used to decorate for the holiday. In the US it seems lights and decorations are spectacular everywhere, with hundreds of thousands tiny twinkling lights strung in trees, bushes, and even outline our housetops. Colorful blow up decorations and laser machines bounce lights into holiday designs onto garage doors and yards. Americans hang lights and decorations everywhere and retail stores use decorations for holiday merchandising.

In Latvia, Christmas lights seem more minimal in attraction. The outdoor light display is mostly strings crisscrossing main street, or in a park near downtown. Oversize lighted snowflakes can be seen hanging from a street lamp or along bus routes. An occasional shop owner displays a string of lights in a window frame. The real Christmas tree is strung with only a couple strings, not dozens.

Both countries bring family together and enjoy a large dinner of traditional foods. In the US Christmas day is preferred for the holiday traditions. A roasted turkey stuffed with dressing is center stage with mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberries, green beans, bread, and pumpkin pie.

In Latvia, the main event is Christmas Eve, where grey peas cooked with bacon/ pork sauce, bacon rolls, cabbage with sauce, pies, sausage rolls, beetroot, and gingerbread cookies are traditional dishes on the table.

Both countries shop for and give gifts at Christmas time. However, in the US, Christmas merchandise starts to crowd the shelves in stores during late summer. In late November, shoppers are frantically running around buying multiple gifts as to not miss the special holiday sales. At the cash registers there is always something Christmas themed nearby for impulsive shoppers.  Americans buy and receive multiple gifts for the holidays, and then return or re-gift a few items.

In Latvia, it’s hard to notice Christmas on the street. The stores are not decorated for the holidays and Christmas items are not rolled out throughout the aisles. There are no storewide Christmas sales, and no Christmas clothes to merchandise. I have yet to see even a Santa Claus. The Latvian outdoor Christmas markets are wonderful, small outdoor huts with small handcrafted items or delicious homemade food and drink, usually located near the center of town in a cluster of shops with a live Christmas tree decorated. These small huts show up in December but are not very crowded until almost Christmas or winter Solstice. We observed handmade socks and scarves and special cheeses and desserts. In Riga, few stores have a parking lot next door, so people walk and carry small shopping bags back to their homes. Latvians focus on one or two small gifts to give to each other.

Although United States and Latvia celebrate Christmas, each has vastly different experiences. While a US Christmas tends to be flashy and full of presents, Latvia seems a bit modest and unimposing in offerings. Either way, one is not better than the other, but rather a different way to experience the symbolic meanings of Christmas.