Basics Latvian culture, along with Lithuanian, is among the oldest surviving Indo-European culture. Much of its symbolism (for example, the "fire cross" or
swastika) is ancient. Its seasons, festivals, and numerous deities reflect the essential agrarian nature of Latvian tribal life. These seasons and festivals are still noted, if not also celebrated today—for example,
Jāņi is a national holiday.
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[Latvian] Ragana ("witch") is a seeress who reveals the future and knows how to control supernatural powers. Later she is degraded to a witch bringing misfortune to humans and animals, very likely by Christian diazotization. At the same time the semantic attitude in the word is not entirely negative. Etymology comes from redzet - 'to see'.