Familje Workshop: Meteni – Latvian mask workshop

Familje Workshop: Meteni – Latvian mask workshop

Teachers from the Latvian School in Reykjavík offer families to join them in a mask workshop to celebrate Meteni. Meteni is an ancient spring waiting holiday, marking the end of winter and coming of spring in Latvia and is considered to be the inspiration and origin of modern times Halloween.The masks usually depict animals  such as wolf, goat, bear, horse or rabbit but sometimes a bear-tamer or a gypsy. The masks were used to hide once identity when roaming between neighbors asking for a treat. If no treat was given the mask bearer would steal something from the houseowner (trick or treat).