Museum of the Occupation of Latvia Museum
Surviving Christmas
For students in grades 8-12
Online lesson.
Lesson objective : to understand how people were able to resist the ideology of the Soviet regime and preserve Christmas traditions during the occupation.
Christmas is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year, and it seems self-evident that everyone chooses how to celebrate it – whether or not to go to church, what gifts to buy and what dishes to put on the table. During the years of Soviet occupation, under the conditions of the totalitarian regime, these holidays and traditions were considered undesirable, replacing them with New Year's celebrations and denying people the opportunity to celebrate as before. However, even in these circumstances, people looked for opportunities and found ways to celebrate Christmas according to the old traditions.
- Visitors:
- Groups
- Length:
- 50 minūtes
- Address:
Latviešu strēlnieku laukums 1, Rīga LV-1050, Latvija
- Contacts:
+371 67229255, info@okupacijasmuzejs.lv
https://okupacijasmuzejs.lv/lv/skolam/nodarbibas/izdzivot-ziemassvetkus
During the lesson, students will learn what Christmas is and how it was celebrated during the independence of Latvia, learn how people in exile and in prison knew how to provide themselves with Christmas with a Christmas tree sent from Latvia or made from broom branches, with a modest meal, with a quietly sung song. Students will learn how holiday traditions changed under the influence of Soviet ideology. This is a lesson about the strength and endurance of people, about the ability to resist the power and ideology of the Soviet regime, about the skill of surviving and celebrating the holidays. Christmas.