Mid-Atlantic Gardening: "Greetings from Latvia"-Part #2., 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
As I observed the marchers----I saw this beautiful custom of the leading marchers carrying an Oak wreath rope in front of the group following them.

This was repeated over and over with many of the other Groups....
I have to tell you that the Oak has a significant meaning in the Latvian culture, It represents "strength" and "masculinity" and---is also the MOST represented tradition in celebrations of the BIG Midsummer Festivals (John's Day). If a man's name is John (Janis), during the John's Day celebration, He he will be bestowed a hand-made wreath of Oak leaves he will wear all throughout the night. It is HIS night!

This Oak leaves wreath has also come to represent many other things Latvian as you can see here. It seems to be a National symbol of "strength".......Rightly so!