(Click picture to enlarge) Memorial to commemorate those who died at the RÄ«ga-Kaiserwald concentration camp between 1943 and 1944, located not far from this memorial in Sarkandaugava, a northern suburb of RÄ«ga. Photo taken by me, August 2015.
In Loving Memory: A Special 52 Ancestors Post
This is my Week #39 52 Ancestors post, and it is dedicated to a very recent ancestor of mine, my grandmother Aina Margrieta Līcīte, married name France, who passed away yesterday at the age of 95. Aina Margrieta (Līcīte) France
The Dreaded Corner House of RÄ«ga
During the Soviet era, there were few buildings so feared and dreaded in Latvia as the “Corner House” – an otherwise nondescript building on the corner of BrÄ«vÄ«bas and Stabu streets (though of course BrÄ«vÄ«bas street – meaning Freedom Street
Latvia and the World
Happy Latvian Independence Day! What have you done today to show your appreciation for Latvia? Sang a song, made some traditional Latvian food, attended a Latvian celebration of some kind? Something that anyone can do to celebrate Latvia today is
24th Anniversary of the Baltic Way
Twenty-four years ago today, on August 23rd, 1989, the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian people united in a show of Baltic unity not seen in history. Millions of people joined hands from Tallinn (Estonia), through the Estonian and Latvian countryside to
Remembering June 14, 1941
June 14, 1941 was the day when thousands of Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians were deported to Siberia by the occupying Soviet forces. You can see posts I’ve made in other years here, here and here. I’ll be honest. I struggle
Happy 94th Birthday Latvia!
On November 18th, 1918, the Republic of Latvia was officially proclaimed by the Latvian Provisional Government in the space that is now the National Theatre in RÄ«ga. There was still a fight to retain the independence of this new republic,
November 11 in Latvia
Today, November 11, is a day of remembrance in many parts of the world, whether it be called Remembrance Day, Veterans’ Day, or something else. This is usually a commemoration of November 11, 1918, when the Armistice was signed at
Tombstone Tuesday – Refugees from Kurzeme
This week’s Tombstone Tuesday is a bit different – this tombstone in Meža kapi (“Forest Cemetery”) in RÄ«ga commemorates thousands of people – in this case, the roughly 3560 World War One refugees from Kurzeme (at the time, western and
Wordless Wednesday – Latvian Composers and Song Festival
(click image to enlarge) Monument to Latvian composers at ViesturdÄrzs (“Viesturs Park”) in northern RÄ«ga, also the oldest park in the city (1711). It was the site of the first Latvian Song Festival, at the end of June, 1873. The