Rīgas svētki 2009
Rīgas Svētki (Riga Festival) is an annual event to celebrate Riga's birthday. Today Riga became 811 years old :)
Birthday is always a good reason to make some inventory.
So, for the last year Riga population went down from 717,371 to 713,016 people (-4,355 or -0,61%), but
Riga district population (including cities inside) has grown from 940,725 to 942,002 (+1,277 or +0,14%)
However Latvia population became less for -9,600 or -0,42% of people (from 2,270,894 to 2,261,294)
Check also fireworks photo of Rigas svetki 2008 and 2010.
Labels: birthdays, bridges, daugava, events, fire, holidays, lights, night, riga, rivers, water
People Reaction (10)
Lovely photo!!! I don't know if I've mentioned this before...my father's mother was born in Riga, probably in the mid to later 1800's...She married my grandfather in the early 1900's...he was born in St. Petersberg...they immigrated to the United States in 1911 after living in Rostock Germany for a period of time...I never met my grandmother as she passed away before I was born. But I really enjoy reading your blog and seeing the pictures...it helps me connect with my heritage!!! Happy Birthday Riga!!!
greeeeeeeeeeeat shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!love it!
What a fabulous setting for fireworks!
Happy birthday, Riga! Her age is awesome. Manila is only half her age!
correction - 808 years old
you should do more research before posting facts like this :)
Happy celebrations!
1201, so 808 year old.you screwed up:)
beautiful!! happy birthday for Rigga!! 808 years, you have some history !
City foundation is relative term for old cities. Different historical sources may provide different dates.
For example, German people think that city birthday is when it gets city rights. Riga got them only in 1225.
The old version and the most popular version is that Bishop Albert founded Riga in 1201.
However many historians believe that city birthday is when it was mentioned as a city first time.
Riga was mentioned as city in 1198.
This fact was discovered quite recently (about 10-15 years ago), therefore year 1201 is still considered to be official date of Riga foundation.
It was so busy that night - could barely move. Great night though (a night I lost my girlfriend in the sea of people though). Next day, Baltic Way - would of been good to see a picture of this too.
Great fireworks and a nice photo of them too. Happy birthday Riga, sorry its a little late.