November – the month of national heroes
In November LLU family is invited to participate in various events to honor the people who lost their lives while fighting for their ideals and freedom, but whose selflessness and courage made it possible for us nowadays to live in an independent country. Despite the gloomy November weather lets light up our hearts and pin up Latvian flag ribbons to our clothes.
On the evening of the 9th of November at 18.00 at Jelgava Palace yard students are invited to participate in the relay race “Lāpa” which this year will happen for the 45th time and is organized in memory of LLU teacher Edvīns Feldmanis who on November 17, 1971 organized the first relay race “Lāpa”. The participants task is to run around Jelgavas Palace Western wing while holding a torch. The start and finish of the race is the middle of Jelgava Palace yard. To apply for the race contact LLU Sports Centre representative Māris Lindenbaums : mlindenbaums@inbox.lv
LLU students and staff are invited to participate in Jelgavas Valsts gymnasium (JVĢ) celebrations in Jelgava Palace, the first of which will take place right after the relay race on November 9 at 19.00 – JVĢ choirs “Skali” concert “Good evening, Latvia!” (“Labvakar, Latvija!”) at LLU Aula.
On 10th of November from 10.30 a Mārtiņdienas fair will take place at LLU Aula lobby in which you will be able to see different works/things made by students and also purchase them.
On the morning of November 11th, when Lāčplēša Day is celebrated in Latvia, JVĢ students at the gates of Jelgava Palace will pass out Latvian flag ribbons. In the evening, LLU students and staff are invited to join the citizens of Jelgava in the Torchlight procession (Lāpu gājiens) that will start at the 52nd National Guard Battalion in Dambja street and will end at the monument of "Liberators of Jelgava" opposite to the railway station. On Lāčplēša day we particularly honor Latvian freedom fighters who on November 11th 1919 freed the city of Riga from Pavel Bermont – Avalovs army nevertheless the torchlight procession is a memorial event for all the different freedoms fighters who lost their lives while fighting.
This year LLU family will take part in the torchlight procession together with the JVĢ family and will start the procession from Jelgava Palace yard and will join the rest of the city at the Jelgava City Council. Gathering for the procession will take place at Jelgava Palace yard at 16.30.
On November 15th at 17.30 LLU artistic collectives invites everyone to join them in an anniversary concert "Lai bij’ vārdi, kam bij vārdi - Man pašam stipri vārdi" in honor of the International Students Day and the Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia. In the concert will participate LUL female choir "Liepa", men's choir "Ozols", folk dance ensemble "Kalve", youth dance group "Skalbe", middle age dance group "Kalve" and LLU students theater.
Festive events will end on November 18th when the LLU Students Council invites to participate in City Councils organized public events and side by side with other students and citizens of Jelgavas and make ornaments by lighting up candles at the Hercoga Jēkaba square. This year LLU Students Council has decided to make Sun symbol (Saules zīme), which is the symbol of light, health and strength. Afterwards everyone is invited to watch the fireworks.
Let’s honor the heroes of the past and never forget that all the wonderful work is made up from small, important daily work carried out by each and every one of us!