Jekaupa Diena (Jekaba Diena), ancient Latvia

In ancient Latvia, Jekaupa Diena ('Jacob's day') was a festival held on July 24 – the Eve of St James (July 25), also known as Jacob. At the start of the harvesting season the townsfolk held feasts from their freshly harvested grain and gave neighbours gifts of bread.

Weddings held on this day were judged to be lucky. A bright sun was also lucky; a cloudy day was a portent of snow; rain caused a low harvest yield. Unless it was a new moon, old seeds had to be sown. It was unlucky to walk through cabbage fields; if the cabbage heads hadn’t appeared yet, they would not ...

Categories: latvia, calendar-customs, saint