Meteņdienas celebrations in Jaunjelgava and Sunākste

The Jaunjelgava Tourist Information Point invites You to get to know Jaunjelgava and Sunākste by participating in the Meteņdienas celebrations on February 7 and let the celebrations reveal the stories of the region! Meteņi, or Meteņdiena, is one of the Latvian seasonal celebrations, which is the midpoint between Christmas and Easter. Meteņi can also be called the celebration of the arrival of spring, because for the ancient Latvians, this was the time when winter ended and spring work began. As with all winter celebrations, people went out in costumes and masks during this time!

Jaunjelgava – "Metenis rides over the hill"
On February 7 at 12:00 p.m. in Brunava Manor Park, Meteņdienas celebrations together with the folklore group "Lauce". Sledding fun, sliding down the hill and fun all day long! There will also be porridge to eat. You can bring your own sleds or hill - sliding equipment, and you are welcome to come in masks!

Sunākste – "Meteņi, ancient Latvian winter farewell celebrations"
On February 7 at 12:00 p.m., gather at the Sunākste community center and the "Veicis" store. Celebrations with dance and music groups from Jēkabpils 3rd Secondary School and Maruta Mīlīga, director of the Jēkabpils Children and Youth Center.

Program:
-Meteņi celebrations
-Sledding and other winter fun
-Games and dances
-Other Shrovetide activities

During the event, everyone is invited to enjoy tea, coffee, and lunch soup at the "Veicis" store (soup is available for a donation). Masks are welcome, and prizes for
creativity will be awarded by the "Veicis" store.

When participating in Meteņdienas events, get to know the places where the celebrations take place:

The celebration site in Jaunjelgava - Brunavas Manor Park is located at Liepu iela 1, which is part of the Brunavas Manor complex. The manor was built in 1898 as the Hibšberga manor, later becoming the Brunava manor, of which three historicist-style brick buildings remain today. The complex consists of a courtyard surrounded by old trees. The square courtyard is grouped with farm buildings (possibly a former barn and stable) built of broken fieldstones. Currently, the buildings are abandoned and slowly being destroyed by the ravages of time. The manor is now privately owned and located in a fenced-off area, but it is possible to walk around the entire manor complex and view each of the buildings.

The place of celebration in Sunākste - in the center of the parish, you can see the art object "Siberian Crosses" ("Sibīrijas krusti") which is Zigfrīds Sapietis dedication to all Latvians who experienced the unwanted war and the horrors that followed. You can also see a memorial dedicated to G.F. Stenders, marking the 300th anniversary of the enlightener. I recommend going a little further from the center of Sunākste towards Viesīte and planning some time to visit the Sunākste Stender Lutheran Church and the sculptural ensemble "Gaismas vārti" (as P. Stradiņš said: "This is a tribute to J. Stradiņš and is an object that symbolizes the spiritual light of Selonia and all of Latvia - education, science, culture, and statehood") and Stender's ABC Trail.

See you at the celebration events!

*The article uses photos by M. Juberte and Jēkabpils Municipality.

Information prepared by Jaunjelgava Tourism Information Center, Jelgavas iela 33, Jaunjelgava.