Ķekatas - Seasonal Holiday Espresso
Coffee available only online and at KALVE Living Room (Valdemara str. 17)
Description
Awaiting the winter solstice, KALVE wishes to highlight and honor our Latvian traditions - Ķekatas or Mummery. In our view, Ķekatas were and still are a magical and important ritual for Latvian identity, bringing goodness, joy, and fertility.
The motif of ĶEKATAS coffee is warmly wrapped in motif of Anna Eltermane's tapestry "Ķekatas in My Childhood Days" (1982, DMDM collection), where, shimmering like stars in the dark winter sky, in a night vision from house to house, in a dynamic rhythm, goat, rooster, sheep, bear, and stork disguised as ķekatnieki, set out to bring blessings and drive away evil spirits.
Anna Eltermane (1929–2009) grew up in Rucava, a region with ancient and strong traditions of folk craftsmanship, labor, and seasonal customs. The artist acquired weaving skills at the Liepāja School of Applied Arts. She continued her education at the Latvian Academy of Arts, where she explored the world of black and white graphics but later turned to theatrical painting and set design. After completing her studies, she returned to Liepāja and resumed weaving, drawing inspiration from nature and folklore motifs. In her tapestries, the splendor of meadow flowers, rural everyday life, and festive events come to life, including ancient solstice rituals.
