In the Latvian town of Ragana, which means "witch", gathered the main sorceresses of the region. The Sabbat was officially authorized by the local council. So the authorities decided to use mystical rituals to attract tourists.
Correspondent Maxim Gusarov spoke with evil spirits.
In the Middle Ages, they were persecuted and burned at the stake. They still frighten small children. Witches! Their activities are prohibited by law in many countries of the world, including throughout Latvia. Except for one small town. The local administration has recently made a revolutionary decision.
From now on and for now forever in the city of Ragana, which is a forty-minute drive from Riga, you can do magic. It is allowed to do this completely openly. In order to consolidate the eccentric decree in practice, they decided to hold the first Latvian gathering of witches, in other words, a sabbath. Judging by the parked brooms, a lot of evil spirits have flocked.
It all started with the name. "Ragana" is translated from Latvian as "witch". The authorities, although they paid attention to the strange toponym, could not do anything with it either in Tsarist times or in Soviet times.
Laimonis Ozols, executive director of Krimulda region: “As if Ragana is carrying something wrong. But this is a historical, old place and name. And in theory, if you rename it, it is unlikely that something will help. I think the main thing is what people have in their heads. If they call themselves something bad, then bad will happen."
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And, nevertheless, many do not like the cuisine from the "Witch's Cauldron" - a Ragan tavern, nor in general everything connected with this "bad" place, which - quote - "advertises" anti-Christian "and" satanic "values." The fight turned out to be serious when the Catholic Church took over.
Janis Pujats, cardinal: “Such games are unworthy of a person. Otherwise, the devil will really come for a soul."
“Well, I’m a folklore element, I have a document,” the winged Filatov's voice almost crashed into the firmament of the law. After all, they decided to rename the city. But the locals disagreed.
In a place called "witch" everything is mixed up with a witch - the word "ragana" is present in the names of car services, shops, and peasant farms. How can you take and cancel such a brand. And so the regional authorities decided to support their residents. To the common joy.
Vita Grishina, a tourist from Riga: “Estonians have such a fairy tale“Little Witch”. On the contrary, she wanted to do good to everyone. And the big witches made her do bad things. And she, on the contrary, did positive. She still had a raven nearby. Since childhood, I have been associated with and the witch has never been something negative or bad."
Christina, resident of Ragana (witch): “I also heard. I was also told these tales about terrible witches. But this is only in fairy tales."
The first All-Latvian meeting of witches was quite peaceful. The brew in large cauldrons was not a deadly potion, but a strengthening herbal tea. Clay figurines, although they are similar, are far from magical voodoo dolls. They learned to fly on brooms, but so far unsuccessfully.
