KATOĻU RELIĢISKIE SVĒTKI PĒCKARA LATVIJĀ (1945–1964): TRADĪCIJU (DIS)KONTINUITĀTE UN TRANSFORMĀCIJA
CATHOLIC HOLIDAYS IN POST-WAR LATVIA (1945– 1964): (DIS)CONTINUITY AND TRANSFORMATION OF TRADITIONS

Summary/Abstract: Soon after the Soviet reoccupation of Latvia and after the end of World War II, on the territory of Latvia, a purposeful and strategic secularization of the local population began, which manifested itself as declericalization, liquidation of Catholic parishes or the limitation of their activities, repressions and emotional abuse of Catholics, as well as the involvement of educational institutions in the fight against the Roman Catholic Church and religion in general. By defining religious traditions as conservative, the anti-religious approach of Soviet propaganda was aimed at eradicating religious holidays and their traditions and replacing them with new holidays and traditions – the bearers of Soviet values. By employing qualitative research methods and based on the life testimonies of the Catholic inhabitants of the Latgale region, the article examines the experience of celebrating Catholic holidays (Christmas, Easter, baptism, marriage) and the aspects of (dis)continuity of traditions under the limitations of atheistic ideology. During secularization, when observance of religious holidays was officially prohibited, the possibilities of passing down traditions and celebration experiences were interrupted or minimized. Despite the social risks, as evidenced by the memories of the Catholic population born in the 1920s–1940s, alternative solutions for safeguarding and maintaining cultural and religious heritage were found. Religious holidays subjected to transformations but still celebrated in a public or private venue served as a particular form of anti-Communist resistance and an essential factor of cohesion and preservation of religious and cultural identity.

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