Latvian winter solstice masking // Miežvilki // GARATAKA

Ziemas saulgriežu maskošanās // Winter solstice masking Masked processions of barleywolves take place on the first day of Christmas in the area of Ventspils and Kuldīga (Kurzeme). „They walk in two groups -- men and women separately. They carry success in the household, mainly in the fields. Branches are dragged with them that are later dropped in the house. They go from house to house. The first group is lead by barleywolf father, the second by the barleywolf mother. The father an