About Us
The Latvian Association of South Australia (Adelaides Latviesu Biedriba or ALB) was established at the first general meeting held on January 15, 1949.
The Association provided not only a social and cultural focus but also information and accommodation assistance for new settlers many of whom arrived on the Nea Hellas.
A former WWII trroop carrier, the Nea Hellas made a single voyage to Australia in 1949, arriving on February 23 in Melbourne.
Of the 1525 passengers on board 259 were from Latvia, and 83 of those settled in South Australia where community activities quickly expanded.
Various groups were introduced: folk dancing, library, sports club, male choir in 1949, Latvian Saturday school in 1950, mixed choir in 1951 and a theatre ensemble.
Consequently scouts, guides, the Latvian Relief Society, needlecraft,a kokle ensemble (an instrument similar to a zither), youth and senior groups followed.
Various private homes, church halls and the YWCA and YMCA halls were used until a permanent place to congregate was purchased, a house in Clark Street, Wayville in 1955.
By 1968 this was extended to include a hall.
The Latvian Association purchased the property on 34 to 36 Rose Street, Wayville in 1968 to be used as meeting rooms, bookshop and eventually the museum.
Spiritual needs were also met and in 1971 the Church of St. Peter was built on Rose Terrace, Wayville opposite the Latvian’s community centre.
Traditions have been passed from one generation to the next.
Holidays and celebrations such as Easter are celebrated quietly, usually by attending church.
On Easter Saturday boiled eggs are dyed in preparation for the next day which is done by wrapping the eggs with leaves, flowers or herbs and then boiling them with brown onion skins.
The result is an effective and decorative patterns.
On Easter Sunday after church, the family meal at home includes an egg fight with the colored eggs, where the idea is to knock the tips of the eggs against each other to see who has the strongest egg.
The winner will have the greatest luck.
Christmas Eve is celebrated by exchanging gifts before the family meal.
Traditional Christmas Eve dishes include Piparkukas, the ginger bread biscuits and Piragi, a bacon turnover.
The European summer solstice at the end of June (our winter solstice) is a festive time called ‘Jani’ or ‘St. John’s Day’ which is recognised through singing, folk dancing, wearing crowns of greenery, jumping over bonfires, drinking beer and eating cheese with caraway seeds.
Latvian Independence Day is celebrated on November 18th, the date on which back in 1918 Latvia proclaimed its independence and became a sovereign democratic republic.
A commemoration service is held on June 13 and 14 in remembrance of the most horrific deportation of Estonians, Lithuanians and Latvians from the Baltic States by the Soviet regime .
Tens of thousands were deported to Siberia during 1941 and again in 1944 and 1945.
The Association's logo and flag were designed by Arvids Sodums.
The flag features a light blue background with one side the "Krusu"symbol along with our founding date, January 15, 1949 and "Adelaides Latviesu Biedriba" in gold lettering.
The other side are four stylised characters representing Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Latgale and Zemgale, with the Association's motto in Capital letters: LATVIETIS, LATVIETIM UN LATVIJAI (Latvian, for Latvians and for Latvia).
