saulgrieži

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solstice, solstice celebration, seasonal festival, turning-of-the-year tradition
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/ˈsɑuːlɡri.eʒi/
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A turning point in the Sun’s yearly path and the traditions that mark it.
Practice using saulgrieži in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Rudens saulgriežiem gatavoja ražas mielastu.
    A harvest feast was prepared for the autumn seasonal festival.
  • Ciema ļaudis pulcējās uz saulgriežu svinībām.
    The villagers gathered for the solstice celebrations.
  • Saulgriežu tradīcijas tiek nodotas no paaudzes paaudzē.
    Solstice traditions are passed from generation to generation.
  • Zemes ass slīpums nosaka saulgriežus.
    The tilt of Earth’s axis determines the solstices.
  • Astronomi precīzi aprēķina saulgriežu brīdi.
    Astronomers calculate the exact moment of the solstice.

Similar words

saulstāvji
sezonas svētki
gadskārtu svētki

Meanings

Astronomical solstice

noun
astronomy
technical
The moment when the Sun reaches its farthest northern or southern position in the sky, producing the longest or shortest day of the year.

Examples

  • Vasaras saulgriežos diena ir visgarākā.
    At the summer solstice, the day is longest.
  • Ziemas saulgrieži ziemeļu puslodē ir decembrī.
    The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is in December.
  • Astronomi precīzi aprēķina saulgriežu brīdi.
    Astronomers calculate the exact moment of the solstice.
  • Pēc ziemas saulgriežiem dienas pamazām kļūst garākas.
    After the winter solstice, the days gradually grow longer.
  • Zemes ass slīpums nosaka saulgriežus.
    The tilt of Earth’s axis determines the solstices.
  • Saulgriežu datums dažādos gados var nedaudz mainīties.
    The date of the solstice can vary slightly from year to year.

Similar words

saulstāvji

Seasonal festival and customs

noun
traditions
neutral
A festival and body of customs linked to a turning point in the seasonal year, especially the Latvian summer and winter celebrations and, in traditional usage, the spring and autumn festivals.

Examples

  • Latvieši vasaras saulgriežus svin ar dziesmām un ugunskuriem.
    Latvians celebrate the summer solstice with songs and bonfires.
  • Ziemas saulgriežos ģimene vilka bluķi.
    At the winter solstice celebration, the family dragged a log.
  • Muzejs rīkoja pavasara saulgriežu pasākumu.
    The museum held a spring seasonal-festival event.
  • Rudens saulgriežiem gatavoja ražas mielastu.
    A harvest feast was prepared for the autumn seasonal festival.
  • Saulgriežu tradīcijas tiek nodotas no paaudzes paaudzē.
    Solstice traditions are passed from generation to generation.
  • Ciema ļaudis pulcējās uz saulgriežu svinībām.
    The villagers gathered for the solstice celebrations.

Similar words

gadskārtu svētki
sezonas svētki

Etymology

A transparent compound of Latvian saule, ‘sun’, and a form related to griezties, ‘to turn’, describing the Sun’s apparent yearly turning point.

FAQ

What does saulgrieži mean?

It means a solstice in astronomy and can also name the Latvian festivals and customs linked to seasonal turning points.

Is saulgrieži singular or plural?

It is a plural-only noun, even when it refers to one solstice.

Is saulgrieži masculine or feminine?

It is a masculine second-declension noun used only in the plural.

What are the main forms of saulgrieži?

The genitive is saulgriežu, the dative is saulgriežiem, the accusative is saulgriežus, and the locative is saulgriežos.

Are saulgrieži and Jāņi the same?

Jāņi is Latvia’s named midsummer festival, while vasaras saulgrieži can mean the astronomical summer solstice or the broader seasonal celebration.

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