Maras
Encyclopedia
In ancient Latvia
, Māras or Māras diena (also Lielās Māras diena or Mātes diena) was a festival, celebrated on August 15, held in honor of Māra, the Latvian goddess
. It marked the midpoint between Jāņi
(the summer solstice
in June) and Miķeļi
(end of harvest
season). The exact date was probably already a result of Christian
influence and identification of Māra with Mary, whose main festival (Assumption
) falls on the same date since antiquity.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Māras or Māras diena (also Lielās Māras diena or Mātes diena) was a festival, celebrated on August 15, held in honor of Māra, the Latvian goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
. It marked the midpoint between Jāņi
Jani
Jāņi is a Latvian festival held in the night from 23 June to 24 June to celebrate the summer solstice , the shortest night and longest day of the year. The day of Līgo and the day of Jāņi are public holidays, and people usually spend them in the countryside...
(the summer solstice
Solstice
A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the Sun's apparent position in the sky, as viewed from Earth, reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes...
in June) and Miķeļi
Mikeli
In ancient Latvia, Miķeļi was a festival held on September 22–September 24, during the dzelzs nedēļa meaning "the week of iron." The holiday was held sacred and associated with the gods Miķelis and Jumis....
(end of harvest
Harvest
Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper...
season). The exact date was probably already a result of Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
influence and identification of Māra with Mary, whose main festival (Assumption
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
) falls on the same date since antiquity.