I have been an honorary member of the Latvian community for around 4 years and I am always impressed by the warmth of feeling surrounding the festival of Jani.  The day is technically the day when all those named John (Janis in Latvian) celebrate but because this day is near to midsummer's day there are national holidays in Latvia and a long list of traditional activities.

We have had organised celebrations at our centre in Rowfant in past years including a church service.  It is interesting to note how the Christian church so often embraces many pre-Christian cultural traditions.  This can sometimes lead to inconsistency but I believe it is possible to celebrate Jani within Christian values and my family will be doing this at the Latvian centre near Rugby (called Straumeni) on 24 June.

Please feel free to respond in English, Latvian or even Russian.