ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Jāņi

Jāņi (pronounced "YAH-nee") is a special holiday that people in Latvia celebrate in June! It's all about celebrating the summer solstice, which is the time of year when the days are longest and the nights are shortest. People in Latvia have been celebrating Jāņi for hundreds of years!

So, what do people do on Jāņi? Well, they usually have big bonfires, which are really big fires that people gather around. They sing songs, dance, and eat lots of delicious food. One of the most popular foods is cake made from rye flour, which is a type of bread. People also make special cheese called "jāņu cheese," which is made by mixing caraway seeds with cottage cheese.

Another fun thing to do on Jāņi is to wear flower wreaths on your head. These wreaths are made by weaving together different types of flowers, usually from the fields around where people live. The wreaths are really pretty and make people feel festive!

Overall, Jāņi is a time when people in Latvia come together to celebrate the longest days of the year, eat yummy food, and have fun!