Māras

Māras ([mɑːras̪]) or Māra Day (Latvian: Māras diena; sometimes referred to as the Great Māra Day or Mother Day) was a Latvian festival, devoted to Māra, an ancient deity,[1].

There are four Mara days: Winter Mara or Candlemass (Latvian: Ziemas Māra) on February 2nd; Spring Mara (Latvian: Pavasara Māra or Latvian: Kāposta Māra) on March 25;[2] Summer Mara (Latvian: Lielā Māra) on August 15[3] and Little or Autumn Mara (Latvian: Mazā jeb Rudens Māra) on September 8.[4]

According to the solar calendar, Māras marks the midpoint between Jāņi, which is summer solstice, and Miķeļi, which represents the end of the harvest season. The actual date, likely, is the result of Christian influence, identifying Māra with Virgin Mary, whose devoted holiday (Assumption of Mary) is observed on 15 August.

See also

References

  1. ^ Jones, William. Discovering Latvia: A Travel Guide. Mamba Press. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  2. ^ "Kas jādara un ko nedrīkst darīt Pavasara Māras dienā – ticējumi un tradīcijas". tv3.lv (in Latvian). 2025-03-25. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  3. ^ Lūse, Lolita (2025-08-15). "15. augusts – Lielās Māras diena. Sievietes šodien nedrīkst mazgāt veļu!". Santa (in Latvian). Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  4. ^ "Māras dienas ticējumi, kam šodien jāpievērš liela vērība". nra.lv (in Latvian). 2017-03-25. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
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