Latvia sits at an interesting crossroads for American employers. It is a Baltic nation with deep pagan roots, a strong Lutheran tradition, and a fast-growing remote tech workforce. If you are managing a remote team member from Latvia, you are working with someone whose calendar blends ancient midsummer rituals, hard-won independence celebrations, and a very serious Christmas cluster. The employer who understands this calendar earns loyalty fast.
Latvia has 12 official public holidays each year, plus a handful of culturally significant days that most Latvians treat as sacred even when they are not legally mandated. This guide covers every date, what each one means, and what you as an employer should expect from your Latvian remote talent around each one.
Latvia
Latvia’s holiday calendar reflects three distinct influences: ancient Baltic folk traditions that predate Christianity, Lutheran observance brought in during the Reformation, and a fierce national identity forged through independence movements in 1918 and 1991. The result is a calendar where a pagan midsummer bonfire festival sits alongside Christmas and two separate independence days. Latvians take all of it seriously.
New Year’s Day (January 1)
January 1 is a national holiday and the country is closed. Most Latvians celebrate the transition into the new year with family gatherings and fireworks on the 31st, so expect your team member to be in full recovery mode on January 1. Some extend their time off through early January if they have accrued leave.
Good Friday (date varies: March or April)
Good Friday is an official public holiday in Latvia, observed the Friday before Easter. Latvia is predominantly Lutheran, and while church attendance has declined, Good Friday remains a day of quiet reflection and family time rather than a normal work day. In 2025 it falls on April 18; in 2026 it falls on April 3.
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (date varies: March or April)
Easter Sunday is a deeply observed cultural day even among non-religious Latvians. Easter Monday is the official public holiday. Traditional Easter eggs in Latvia are decorated with natural dyes and geometric folk patterns called raksti. Most Latvians head to the countryside for the long weekend, so treat the full Easter weekend as unavailable time.
Labour Day (May 1)
May 1 is both Labour Day and the anniversary of the Latvian Constituent Assembly convocation in 1920. It is a national holiday and offices are closed. The day is generally low-key, used for outdoor gatherings now that spring has arrived.
Declaration of Independence Day (May 4)
May 4 marks the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence of Latvia in 1990, when the country formally broke from Soviet rule. It is an official national holiday. When May 4 falls on a weekend, the following Monday is observed. This day carries real emotional weight, particularly for older Latvians who lived through the Soviet period. Expect a quiet, reflective day rather than loud celebration.
Mother’s Day (Second Sunday in May)
Mother’s Day is not a public holiday in Latvia, but it is widely observed. In 2025 it falls on May 11. Most Latvians spend the day with family. Your team member will likely be fully available, but do not be surprised if they are a bit distracted or take a half day with prior notice.
Whitsunday / Pentecost (date varies: May or June)
Whitsunday (Pentecost) is observed in Latvia as part of the Lutheran calendar. While not always listed as a hard national holiday, it is widely acknowledged in the workplace calendar. In 2024 it fell on May 19. Check the current year’s calendar to confirm observance status for your specific team member’s employer agreement.
Midsummer Eve and Jani (June 23 and June 24)
This is the biggest event on the Latvian calendar, full stop. Jani (also called Janu vakars or Ligo) is an ancient Baltic midsummer festival rooted in pre-Christian tradition, celebrating the summer solstice, fertility, and renewal. June 23 is Midsummer Eve (Ligo Night) and June 24 is Jani Day, and both are official public holidays. Virtually the entire country leaves the cities and heads to the countryside. Latvians stay awake through the shortest night of the year, sing traditional folk songs called dainas, light massive bonfires, drink beer, and eat Jani cheese, a special caraway-spiced curd cheese made specifically for this occasion. Women weave flower crowns from wildflowers including daisies, cornflowers, and clover. Men wear wreaths of oak leaves. Finding the blooming fern flower at midnight is a traditional ritual symbolizing luck and happiness. Treat June 23 and 24 like Christmas for your Latvian team. Nobody works.
Father’s Day (Second Sunday in September)
Father’s Day is not a public holiday but is a recognized cultural observance. In 2025 it falls on September 14. Similar to Mother’s Day, most Latvians spend it with family. Your team member will generally be available but may request a half day or flex time.
Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia (November 18)
November 18, 1918 is the date Latvia declared independence for the first time, making it one of the most important dates on the national calendar. This is a full national holiday with military parades in Riga, public ceremonies, and significant national pride. It is not a day for work. Latvians of all generations observe this one with genuine pride, not just as a day off.
Christmas Eve (December 24)
Christmas Eve is the main event of the Latvian Christmas celebration, more important than December 25 itself in most Latvian households. Families gather for a large meal, exchange gifts, and attend church. It is an official public holiday. Your Latvian team member will not be available, full stop.
Christmas Day (December 25)
December 25 is the first day of Christmas and a national holiday. The celebrations carry over from Christmas Eve, with continued family gatherings and rest. Latvia’s Lutheran tradition treats December 25 as a sacred day of religious observance and family time.
Second Day of Christmas (December 26)
December 26, called the Second Day of Christmas, is also an official public holiday in Latvia. This extends the Christmas observance and is used for visiting extended family, continuing celebrations, and rest. The result is that December 24, 25, and 26 form a three-day block where no business gets done.
New Year’s Eve (December 31)
December 31 is an official public holiday in Latvia. Combined with Christmas Eve on the 24th and Christmas Day on the 25th, the last two weeks of December are effectively a holiday season for most Latvian workers. Plan your project timelines accordingly. If something needs to be completed before year-end, target December 20 as your soft deadline.
How to work with Latvia’s national holidays as an American Employer
A few days on Latvia’s calendar are fully non-negotiable, and Jani is at the top of that list. June 23 and 24 function the same way Christmas does in the United States. The entire country shuts down and heads to the countryside. There is no calling in, no quick Slack message, no “just check your email once.” Plan as if these days do not exist on your work calendar, because for your Latvian team member, they do not. The Christmas cluster operates the same way. December 24, 25, and 26 are three consecutive national holidays, and most Latvians add December 31 and extend the break to a full week or more with accrued leave. Get critical deliverables locked in before December 20.
The independence days, May 4 and November 18, are national holidays where offices are closed, but the tone is different from Jani and Christmas. These are days of national pride and ceremony. Your Latvian team member may check messages and respond to genuinely urgent items, but do not make a habit of it. Respect the significance of these dates, especially November 18, which carries deep historical meaning for a country that spent decades under Soviet occupation.
Good Friday and Easter Monday are full holidays in Latvia. Unlike some European countries where these are loosely observed, Latvia treats the Easter weekend as a legitimate four-day break. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Whitsunday are softer observances where your team member will generally be available but may need some schedule flexibility. A quick check-in at the start of each quarter about upcoming personal commitments around these dates goes a long way toward building a functional remote working relationship.
Latvia has a strong and growing remote workforce, particularly in tech, marketing, and operations. If you are already tapping into our Eastern Europe talent network, you know the quality of candidates coming out of the Baltic region. Whether you are hiring web developers or operations specialists, build the Latvian holiday calendar into your project planning from day one. It is a small investment of attention that prevents big scheduling surprises.
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