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LATVIA - DID YOU KNOW?
A meaningless collection of strange, but true, facts about Latvia |
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Prince Charles Slapped |
During a walkabout to meet and greet the Latvians next to the Freedom Monument in Riga, our future King was indeed slapped in the face by a 16 year old carnation wielding Russian girl, who was subsequently arrested for threatening the security of a visiting dignitary.
Read the full BBC report here to find out what happened next here...
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Eurovision Humiliation |
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Yes, a glorious night in Riga, with Latvia hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. We all remember Jemini's rip roaring rendition of "Cry Baby" and our glorious "nul points" at in May 2003.
Eurovision disaster or British national music credibility finally restored? |
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Mythical Blue Cows |
... actually exist and Latvian Blue Cows are amongst the rarest of the world's bovine species!
O.k. so maybe blue with a hint of grey... |
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Those Sneaky Germans |
| Legend has it that when the first German missionaries arrived, they asked for enough land to cover the hide of one ox. The Latvians agreed. The Germans cut the hide into thin strips, made a line around Riga, and then claimed it as their own! |
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Right of First Night |
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Even in 18th century, the ruling German landlords upheld their right to sleep with their serfs' newlywed brides on the wedding night.
In true Baldrick style, the serfs developed "a cunning plan": by treating the lord as the guest of honour, plying him with alcohol, then watching him fall asleep before he got his sweaty paws on the Baltic bride. |
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The First Christmas Tree? |
Riga claims to be the birthplace of the Christmas tree when in 1510 a group of Riga merchants first decorated a fir tree with flowers in honour of the birth of Christ.
This tradition then spread throughout the Christian world. However if you believe the Estonians, they have been decorating Christmas trees since 1411.
Why not visit the Riga's Christmas Market ... you can even have a go in a Bobsled? |
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Riga Balsams - The World's First Ever Multi-Purpose Cure! |
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Made from 24 different herbs, spices and grasses, and extremely alcoholic, it is generally considered by the Latvians as a cure for everything, gaining its reputation in the 18th century when Catherine the Great was cured after dowing a couple of shots.
Drunk on its own or enjoyed in coffee or on ice cream: you can't escape the taste.
Suitable for friends and enemies alike! Our top tip for a present from Latvia. |
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