Republic Day in Latvia
On 18 November, Latvia marks the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, the 1918 declaration of an independent state. The law lists it as a public holiday and moves the holiday to the next working day when 18 November falls on a Saturday or Sunday.[1][2]
A holiday rooted in Latvia’s statehood
The holiday commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia at a solemn meeting in the Latvian National Theatre in Riga on 18 November 1918. The Latvian National Council also approved an interim government led by Kārlis Ulmanis.[3]
The anniversary carries particular meaning in Latvia because the country’s independence was interrupted by occupation. The Latvian President’s historical timeline records that Red Army troops crossed the border on 17 June 1940 and that Latvia restored de facto independence on 21 August 1991. The Foreign Ministry describes 18 November as the proclamation of an independent state and notes that independence was restored after more than 51 years.[3][2]
Legal status and the weekend rule
Latvia’s law names 18 November the Day of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia and classifies it as a public holiday. If it falls on Saturday or Sunday, the following working day is designated a holiday. In a standard Monday-to-Friday workweek, that is the next Monday; the legal wording is “following working day.”[1]
Under the Labour Law, employees are not required to work on public holidays. Where continuity of work makes holiday work necessary, employers may require it while granting rest on another day or paying appropriate remuneration.[4]
How the day is observed
The national tourism authority describes festive events, concerts and speeches taking place across Latvia for the occasion. These are nationwide observances, while individual programmes can vary by place and year.[5]
The date is officially called the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia in the holiday law and by the Foreign Ministry. It is also presented as Latvia’s National Day. The day marks the 1918 proclamation, rather than the separate 4 May holiday that commemorates the 1990 declaration on restoring independence.[1][2][3]
Practical effects for visitors and residents
Because the date is a statutory public holiday, many employees have the day off, subject to the Labour Law’s provision for work that must continue. The holiday law does not specify opening hours for banks, shops, museums or public transport, so check each service’s holiday schedule before making plans.[1][4]
When the date falls on a weekend, the next working day is also a holiday under the law. The ministry’s embassy information similarly notes that its embassy closes on the next working day when 18 November falls on a Saturday or Sunday; this describes embassy hours, while individual businesses and services may set their own schedules.[1][6]
Frequently asked questions
When is Republic Day in Latvia?
Is Republic Day a public holiday and a day off?
What happens when 18 November falls on a weekend?
The following working day is designated a holiday. In a usual Monday-to-Friday workweek, that means the next Monday.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Republic Day in Latvia:
- On Public Holidays, Commemoration Days, and Celebration Days- Likumi.lv, official publisher Latvijas Vēstnesis
- 11. National Hollidays and Remembrance Days- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
- History- Chancery of the President of Latvia
- Labour Law- Likumi.lv, official publisher Latvijas Vēstnesis
- Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia- Latvian Investment and Development Agency, latvia.travel
- Latvian national holidays- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia