The First Latvian National Awakening
The First Latvian National Awakening or the First Awakening (Pirmā Atmoda) was a cultural and national revival movement between 1850 – 1880 among a group of well-educated Latvians, Jaunlatvieši (Young Latvians) who, opposed to the Baltic German dominance in Livonia and Courland Governorates, created the basis for the modern Latvian nation state. It was influenced by European romantic nationalism movements of Young Germans and Czech National Revival. Most of their effort was spent on educating Latvians, criticizing Germans and removing the stigma from Latvian language, traditions and culture.
The movement started after 1850 in the University of Tartu, which then was the place of highest education in Livonian Governorate and was attended by around 30 ethnic Latvian students. Krišjānis Valdemārs, a student from Courland, posted on his dorm room note identifying himself as a Latvian, which was unheard of at the time. Very soon a group of 10-13 students grew around him; they organized “Latvian evenings” during which they debated about the condition of German oppressed Latvians. Juris Alunāns and Krišjānis Barons soon became some of leading members.[1]
They established newspapers Mājas Viesis and Pēterburgas Avīzes. Movement initially was supported by Russian authorities who saw it as a tool against the German dominated Baltic provinces.
In 1868 Young Latvians began gathering Latvian folk songs Dainas. Initially it was done by Fricis Brīvzemnieks, but it was continued by Krišjānis Barons, who in 1894 published the first book of Dainas and eventually become known as Dainutēvs (Father of dainas).
Another literary activist was teacher Atis Kronvalds, who discovered mention of a red-white-red flag in the 13th century Livonian Rhymed Chronicle. These colors eventually became the flag of Latvia. Kronvalds worked tirelessly on promoting education among Latvians, and modernizing Latvian language by creating many new words.
In 1868, initially as a charity organisation for helping victims of Estonian crop failure, Riga Latvian Society was established, which organized Latvian cultural life in Riga and regions.[2] The first Latvian theatre troupe led by Ādolfs Alunāns was established here, which led to the birth of playwriting in Latvian.
In 1873 the First Latvian Singing Festival was held in Riga during which most of the songs were Latvian folk songs but one song, composed by Baumaņu Kārlis later became the National anthem of Latvia. Faring the growth on nationalism, its original name “God, bless Latvia!” was changed by Russian censors to “God, bless the Baltics!”.
In 1888 the national epic Lāčplēsis written by Andrejs Pumpurs was first published.
The First Awakening was a cultural movement mostly among the well-educated classes and soon run out of momentum, as the Latvian society became more mature and interested in the new political and scientific ideas. Many of leading Young Latvians died early or worked in Russia, away from their home. Latvians also experienced a wave of Russianization during which use of Latvian in schools was prohibited.
The First Awakening was followed by Jaunā strāva (New Energy/ New Current) movement, which was much more political and led to the establishment Social Democratic Party.
References
- ↑ "Letonika.lv. Enciklopēdijas - Latvijas vēstures enciklopēdija. Latvija 19. gadsimtā". letonika.lv. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
- ↑ "Riga Latvian society`s history". rlb.lv. Retrieved 2016-04-03.