Ground Report

According to information published by Delfi.lv V-Day, commemorated both European (8th May) and Russian (9th May) style in Latvia, in it’s "Russian" version is accepted as holiday by 5% of ethnic Latvian respondents of recent public opinion poll, while it is favoured by 54% Russian and 41% of respondents of other nationalities . "Russian" V-Day version is supported by 4% of citizen-respondents and 63% of ”alien" respondents. Latvia officially commemorates V-Day on 8th May, unofficial festivities of Russian-speaking community with participation of diplomats from some post-Soviet states take place on 9th May near Soviet-time Monument to Liberators of Riga and Latvian SSR from Nazism. Latvia does not consider V-Day a holiday, as the territory of Soviet annexed and occupied Latvian state (1940) was liberated by the Soviet Union. The poll conducted by AC Konsultaacijas for now non-existent Special Task Department for Social Integration (incorporated into Family and Children Issues ministry) included 1 200 respondents. New Year, Christmas, Passover and Ligo (pronounced: „Lee-go”, local analogue of European wide tradition of Midsummer festivities) are among the most popular holidays in Latvia. More than half of the repondents celebrate International Women day ("undeground" holiday, considered "Soviet", since restoration of the state until this year) and 54% celebrate Mother’s Day (local, pre-Soviet holiday).