1. SONGS OF

2. Jāņi (pronounced [jaːɲi]) is a Latvian festival celebrated in the night from 23 June to 24 June to
mark the summer solstice , the shortest night and longest day of the year. The day of Līgo
([liːɡuo]) (23 June) and the day of Jāņi (24 June) are public holidays and people usually spend
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them in the countryside.

3. Traditions of Jāņi
• Flower picking, home and fence decorating
• Crown braiding from flowers and oak leaves
• Fire burning from sunset till sunrise
• Traditional song singing
• Beer drinking and cheese eating
• Fern`s flower searching

7. An important part of Jāņi are songs of Līgo. Name „līgo” means ‘swaying and
swinging’. Līgo songs contribute fertility and protect from accidents. Fields,
people, animals, home and forests are being chunt in Jāņi.

27. Līgotāji Līgotāji
Kas tos Jāņus ielīgoja? Who those Jāņus going to sing?
Mūsu pašu ciema ļaudis! Our own village people!
Pirmie gani, pēc arāji, First sheepherds,often
Visupēc jaunas meitas ploughmen,
Update new daughters.

29. Visu gadu All year
Lec, Jānīti, kur lekdamis, Jump,Jānīti,where you`re jumping,
Lec kāpostu dārziņāi! Jump into the cabbage furrow!
Lai aug balti kāpostiņi. Let grow white cabbages
Kā Jānīša cepurīte. As big as Jānītis hat.

32. Ai, Jānīti, Dieva dēls Oh,Jānītis, oh, God son
Ai, Jānīti, Dieva dēlsi, Oh,Jānītis, oh, God son,
Tavu kuplu cepurīti: What a wide hat you have!
Barley grow, rye and oats
Auga mieži, auga rudzi
Under your wide hat.
Apakš tavas cepurītes.

34. Ozoliņi, ozoliņi Oak-tree, oak-tree
Ozoliņi, ozoliņi, Oak-tree, oak-tree,
Tavu lielu resnumiņu: What a large thickness
Three days the sun goes
Trīs dieniņas saule teka, around,
Nevarēja aptecēti.
Can`t trip around.

36. Kuriet augstu jāņuguni Heat high Jāņu fire
Kuriet lielu jāņuguni Heat high Jāņu fire
Augsta kalna galiņāi; At the top of high hill
Lai maldāsi raganiņas, Let witches to get lost way
Jāņu nakti staigādamas.
Walking all Jāņu night .

38. Iesim raudzīt Go to see
Give me cheese, Jāņu mother
Dodi sieru, Jāņu māte,
Nu ir Jāņu vakariņis! Now it is Jāņi afternoon!
Jāņa bērni nosaluši, Jāņa children are frozen,
Tavus lopus pušķodami. Decorating your animals .

40. Neguļu, neguļu I don`t sleep, I don`t sleep
Neguļu, neguļu, I don`t sleep, I don`t sleep,
Jānīša nakti, At Jāņi night,
Lai mani liniņi For my flaxies
Veldrē nekrīt!
Not fall down.

42. Kas to saka Who say that
Who say that, he lies,
Kas to saka, tas meloja,
That Jāņu night is long.
Ka ir gara Jāņu nakte;
Here is going to darken, Here is
Te satumsa, te uzausa,
going to dawn,
Te saulīte gabalā.
Here the sun is far away.