Mārtiņdiena Brīvdabas muzejā

Since the autumn equinox, there is less and less light, while the nights stretch out. Gradually, farm work subsides and, with the arrival of Martinsday, Apkūlības are celebrated in the peasant farmstead, when the grain must not only be roofed, but also threshed, and the grains poured into barn bins. The harvest has been gathered, the herding season ends, and summer is over. Dark autumn nights are the right time to tell and listen to fairy tales, legends, ancient tales, guess and ask riddles, wear masks, and go on mask processions. Cattle were slaughtered for winter, and grain was stored in barn bins.

The autumn period is characterized by anthropomorphic - human-like masks. Approaching Christmas, other characters appear in mask processions depicting animals and birds (bear, goat, he-goat, wolf, horse, crane), objects (flour sifting sieve, broom, basket, etc.), people of various professions and nationalities (gypsy, Jew, clergyman, old soldier, doctor, musician, beggar, etc.) and mythological beings (e.g., Death, Devil, Ghost, Tall Woman and Little Man). Metenis is the last seasonal holiday that concludes the masking period.

The holiday program will feature a bustling Martinsday mask procession, traditional songs, folk games, dances, creative workshops and blacksmith work demonstrations, as well as a market where it will be possible to buy handicrafts and locally produced food products. Visitors are cordially invited to arrive in traditional masks, but during the event there will also be an opportunity to make your own mask.