May 25th – Urbāns’ Day. The Gate to Summer

When the cherry blossoms begin to fall and the air turns sweet with the scent of bird cherry trees, we reach Urbāns’ Day (Urbāna diena). For ancient Latvians, this was a vital boundary in the natural calendar—it was the day when summer officially took over. After Urbāns’ Day, the fear of night frosts usually vanished, and the earth was finally warm enough to offer its full strength to the gardens.

The Great Sowing and the Magic of Growth Urbāns’ Day was considered the ultimate day for sowing and planting. It was the prime time for flax, cucumbers, and beans. Our ancestors believed that anything planted on this day would grow exceptionally well and be resistant to the scorching summer heat. This is a time of lush greenery and blossoming, when people would decorate their homes with birch branches (meijas) to bring the vitality of the forest into their living spaces.

Ancient Folk Beliefs for Urbāns’ Day:

• Nature's Signs: If the bird cherry trees (ievas) are in full bloom on Urbāns’ Day, a hot and dry summer is expected.

• The First Thunder: If you hear thunder for the first time in May, it promises a bountiful harvest and a very fertile year ahead.

• Morning Dew Ritual: It was believed that washing your face in the morning dew during May would keep your skin white, rosy, and protected from the burning sun all summer long.

• Oats and Barley: If the weather is sunny and clear on this day, the oat and barley harvest will be heavy and golden.

Urbāns’ Day reminds us that there is a perfect time for every seed to be sown. It is a moment to celebrate the blooming earth, to feel the upcoming warmth of summer, and to share the sunny energy of "Sweet Amber" with those we love.