On October 8, the city of Valmiera (Latvia) will host the famous Simjūds Fair, showcasing Latvia’s cultural traditions. Food, craftsmanship, typical music and dances will accompany visitors all day long, tickling all their senses.
Valmiera is part of the Rīga-Gauja Region, selected as European Region of Gastronmy, 2017. Therefore, with its rich supply of goods for gourmands of autumn harvest, the fair should be marked as one of the introductory events to the year of the European Region of Gastronomy.
Tables will be full of various goods: home-baked bread, pastries, smoked meat, fish, cheese, sweets and treats, magnificent gingerbreads, fresh and dried fruit, nuts. Craftsmen and women from all around Latvia will gather in the Simjūds Fair. Fruit, plants, decorative plants, natural goods and useful items for household and garden will be supplied. Jewellery made by skilled jewellers will shine from afar.
Since the medieval times such a fair was organized by the church on the Simon’s day. Simon’s day and Judas’ day marked in the calendar gave the name to the Simjūds fair. In the medieval times it was the oldest fair in the Vidzeme region and the last one before the winter, when people could buy everything they needed for their households and to have fun by singing and dancing.
The Valmiera Museum re-established the ancient tradition of organizing the Simjūds Fair in 1996 and ever since it has once again become an awaited and beloved annual event.
4 October 2016
