Figure 1.--This little Riga boy probably had his portrait taken in the late-1930s, just before World War II. The tddies may have been studio props, but show thatteddy bears were popular in Latvia. We re not sure what color the boy's button-on suit was.

We see Latvian boys involved in a range of diffrent activities. There have been some Latvian boys' choirs. We see Latvian children with many of the toys popular in Germany. We also note a range of differentgames. Latvin national holidays include: January 1--New Year's Day; Good Friday; Easter Sunday; May 1--Labor Day; June 24--Midsummer; November 18--Independence Day; December 24-26 (Christmas). As in the rest of Europe, football (soccer) was the the preminent national sport. Scouting was the principal boys' youth groups. Latvia had until the Soviet invasion an active Scouting movement. The Soviets banned Scouting and Latvian boys hd to participate in the Young Pioneers movement. There are many areas such as music and dance that we still know nothing about. Hopefully our Latvian readers will tell us more about boys' activities in their country.

Choirs

There have been some Latvian boys' choirs. Latvia is one of the three Baltic republics which became independent with the disolution of the Soviet Union. HBC know of three choirs. Two are of fairly recent origin. There is also a choir ar a state school promoting music. I am not sure when this choir was founded.

Dance

We do not yet know anything about dance in Latvia.

Holidays

Latvin national holidays include: January 1--New Year's Day; Good Friday; Easter Sunday; May 1--Labor Day; June 24--Midsummer; November 18--Independence Day; December 24-26 (Christmas).

Music

We do not yet know anything about music in Latvia.

Play

We see Latvian children with many of the toys popular in Germany. We see the popular teddy bears. We also note a range of different games.

Sports

As in the rest of Europe, football (soccer) was the the preminent national sport.

Youth Groups

We have little information on Estonian youth groups at this time. Scouting began tp appear in informally in Latvia while the country was still part of Tsarist Russia. I know of no other youth groups in Latvia at the time. Scouting was the principal boys' youth groups. Latvia had until the Soviet invasion an active Scouting movement. The Soviets banned Scouting and Latvian boys hd to participate in the Young Pioneers movement. I am not sure to what extent the Soviet Pioneer movement was organized in Latvia prior to the NAZI invasion. The NAZIs invaded the Soviet Union (June 1941) and within days reached Latvia. I do not know if the NAZIs attempted to organize any nationalist youth group. The Red Army retook Latvia (1945) and for several decades the only youth group allowed to function was the Young Pioneers.

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Created: 8:02 PM 3/25/2008
Last updated: 8:02 PM 3/25/2008