Editing Meteņi (section)

== Holiday traditions ==
[[File:Budēļi.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Meteņi [[ķekatas]] mask group of [[Zemgale]] and Kurzeme called Budēļi, Buduļi or Būduļi.<ref>[http://www.celotajs.lv/cont/prof/proj/Interreg_IVA-Heritage_Tourism/Documents/Pasakumi/2013/Prezentacija_Meteni.pdf Masku tradīcijas latviešu kultūrā] Inese Roze, Viewed February 26, 2016</ref>]]

Meteņi is about people eating and drinking as much as they wanted. During this time [[domestic pig|pigs]] were slaughtered, so the traditional holiday dishes were pig's head and fritters. Parents threw gifts to their children from above the room, as if [[Laima]] threw her gifts from above the heaven. As with every winter holiday, [[ķekatas]] were traveling the country and paid visits to people. There is a belief that the longer Meteņi is celebrated, the better the harvest is expected following summer. The Solstice bonfire is burned while performing rituals of tying a witch's tongue and donations. The campfire is used to burn last summer's [[Jāņi]] festive wreaths.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eliesma.lv/meteni-ir-klat|title=Meteņi ir klāt}}</ref> The straw is often burned and in some places, the straws are handmade into characters, which is primarily removed from hills and then burned to drive winter away.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}}