Lāčplēsis Day

Lāčplēsis Day (Latvian: Lāčplēša diena) is a memorial day for soldiers who fought for the independence of Latvia. It is celebrated on November 11th, marking the decisive victory by the Latvian Army over the joint Russian-German West Russian Volunteer Army led by the warlord Pavel Bermondt-Avalov at the 1919 Battle of Riga during the Latvian War of Independence, thus safeguarding the independence of the nascent nation. It initially was a day of honoring the 743 soldiers that fell in the battles around the Riga area.

A popular commemorative symbol, introduced by the LNT television channel in 2007 and supported by the Latvian Ministry of Defence, is a victory sign-shaped Latvian flag ribbon worn on the left chest. Often it is worn throughout November.

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