The population of the small town of Bebrene in Augšdaugava Municipality has doubled this week. For eight days, from June 28 to July 5, Bebrene has become home to 450 participants of the World Latvian Family Gathering "3x3", bringing together families from across Latvia and around the world.
"Who am I? Do I truly know myself? Am I worthy? What is my place in Latvia, in the world, in the universe? What is my Latvian identity? Who am I as a Latvian? Am I a good Latvian?" These are the questions participants seek to answer, as this year's central theme of the gathering is "ME."
The Remigration Coordinator of the Latgale Planning Region, Jeļena Mihasenko, visited the camp to witness the scale of the event firsthand and to meet its organizers and participants.
The gathering is organized by the Cekulis family—Ilze and Lauris, together with their children Ako Kārlis, Lote, and Elza Hermīne. Bebrene is the third 3x3 gathering organized by the family, following previous events in Krāslava (2018) and Zasa (2022).
"Together as a family, we organize the World Latvian Family Gathering '3x3' in Bebrene. Our goal is to bring together Latvians from all over the world to spend a week reflecting on what it means to be Latvian and why it is a genuine source of pride," says Ako Kārlis Cekulis.
The historic Bebrene Manor estate has been chosen as the venue for the gathering. Throughout the week, participants of all ages take part in a wide range of traditional and creative workshops. Everyone can choose activities that match their interests—from exploring the sounds of nature and making traditional Latvian leather footwear (pastalas) to brewing beer and attending health and wellness sessions.
Workshop leaders from across Latvia volunteer their time to share the fundamentals of their crafts, professions, and artistic skills with the gathering's large community. One day is simply not enough to visit every workshop and activity, but the Latgale Planning Region team still managed to experience several particularly memorable ones. Renowned kokle maker Andris Roze from Vidzeme taught participants how to make traditional Latvian horns (taures). During our visit, the workshop had become a lively gathering place for men. Meanwhile, mountaineering sessions led by Normunds Hofmanis from Jelgava were among the most popular activities for children. And it hardly needs mentioning just how much interest the beer-brewing and choir workshops attracted among participants.
Everyone leaves the gathering enriched. Enriched with new friendships, enriched with new skills gained through a week of workshops, and enriched spiritually. Every story shared, every conversation, every workshop, every game played together, and every song sung becomes a small pearl added to the necklace of one's "ME." And there is hope that the hospitality of Latgale and Sēlija has inspired at least one Latvian living abroad to consider returning home.