Days of Remembrance for the Deceased in Latvia are traditionally marked as Candlelight Evenings, during which cemeteries are prepared in advance: leaves are raked, graves are covered with spruce branches, and candles are lit in memory of departed loved ones.
On the MemorialServices platform, it is possible to find a specific grave or deceased person from anywhere in the world and order remote grave cleaning, reconstruction, restoration, or landscaping.
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The Catholic Church celebrates the Day of Remembrance for the Deceased as All Souls' Day on November 2, the day after All Saints' Day.
In the Lutheran Church, the Day of Remembrance for the Deceased, or Eternity Sunday, has been observed since 1816, on the last Sunday of the Church Year – the Sunday before the First Advent. In 2024, this will be November 24. In Latvian tradition, this is the time 9 days before Michaelmas and 9 days after Martinmas – the time of the spirits, when people remember their loved ones and those who have fallen in battle, lighting candles for the souls of their ancestors.
Each municipality in Latvia may have its own designated Candlelight Evening date, which can change annually, but it traditionally takes place between the end of September and the end of November.
Information on the portal is updated weekly in the CEMETERIES section.
Municipalities encourage people to take care of their relatives' graves, rake leaves, and keep burial sites clean. According to municipal regulations, grave maintainers are responsible for ensuring that the graves are kept in proper condition in accordance with [cemetery maintenance rules].
If a grave remains unattended for a long time, it may be marked as neglected. Once a year, cemetery caretakers conduct inspections and issue reports on unmaintained graves.
Under these rules, grave maintainers are required to clean up the grave within 3 months of receiving the notice.
Grave before cleaning at Miķelis Cemetery, Riga, October 2023
Grave after cleaning at Miķelis Cemetery, Riga, October 2023
MemorialServices offers services for cleaning the graves of your loved ones, as well as other necessary landscaping tasks. Before and after the work is completed, a photo report is provided, and you can also sign a contract for regular grave maintenance.
