Klusie Saulgrieži, vai kā man pietrūkst/ Quiet solstice or what I miss

Teju pirms diviem gadiem es veicu Eiroremontu savai vecajai dzīvei. Tādu pamatīgu, ar pārvākšanos un griestu paneļiem, tiesa paneļu vietā tika nomainītas debesis - Latvijas tumšākzilās pret blāvi gaišzilajām Beļģijas ārēm.
(Šeit es atļāvos ieviest nelielu atkāpīti angļu valodā tiem, kam Jāņi ir kaut kas jauns)
Bet bēdīgā kārtā, jau divi gadi aizvadīti bez saulgriežu svinēšanas. Nesvin Beļģi, nesvin. No visām baznīcas dienām, kas kalendārā atzīmētas ar sarkanu, Jāņi nav vienas no tām. Tā nu rit laiks un Jāņu sāk trūkt arvien vairāk. Pirmīt nesanāca, jo man, kā jaunajai darbiniecei brīvdienas nepienācās, naudas arī bija pamaz, bet apritējis nu jau gads un atkal iztukšītis. Pietrūkst dūmu, dziesmu, paparžu un Rojas delikatešu, pietrūkst siera un meijām pušķotu ielu. Šogad samierinājos ar saulgriežu pusnakts pastaigu un Juras Laikmeta parka pirmās filmas skatījumu līdz pulkstens 4 rītā, ne gluži līdz pirmajiem gaiļiem, bet līdz pirmajiem strazdiem gan. Bet tas jau ir neliels uzlabojums, cerams nākamgad braukšu uz Jāņiem un svinēšu tos dabiskajā vidē.
Ceru, ka Jāņus nosvinējāt lustīgāk nekā es.


Almost 2 years ago I gave my life a serious facelift. A really major one, with moving and changing my environment, more specifically - changing of the skies. I left the Latvian darker-blue one and moved under the pallid Belgian sky.
Two years I spent without celebrating solstice. For those of you who find this concept foreign, imagine all the awesomeness of Christmas (for those of you who celebrate it) but in summer (except for people in Southern hemisphere and equatorial climate) and with more beer and songs, and closer to nature. It is called "Jāņi", Google it.  For many it is also an event that brings people closer to their roots and/or family.
Alas, Belgians just do not do it, not in a way that matters anyway. From all religious celebrations that are made into bank holidays, solstice day or St. Johns` day (to make it christianity-appropriate), is not one of them. Time passes and I start missing the solstice fest more. Last year I could not go back, yet another year has come to pass and again, nothing. I miss the smell of smoke, the singing, the ferns and smoked fish, I miss home-made cheese and streets decorated with freshly cut young birch saplings. This year I found some consolation by taking a solstice-night walk and watching the Jurassic Park (first movie) until 4 am. Not exactly until the sunrise, but at least until the first bird calls. This is a mild improvement, but next year I wish for a full-scale celebration in its` natural habitat.
I hope that you had more fun during the solstice (if that is your thing).