Miķeļi or Miķeļdiena is a Latvian autumn equinox and annual harvest festival and market. Latvian Miķeļi dainas (folk songs) referred to good and rich husbands as bread fathers, who are associated with the autumn harvest ripening.

The Latvian name of this holiday is Apjumības or Appļāvības, because this day was the last one when grains could have been harvested. A characteristic Miķeļdiena pagan ritual was finding Jumis (one stalk with two spikes fused together), through which farmers sought to ensure the fertility of the fields in the coming year.

Drawing bread signs on an unbaked loaf of bread is an ancient Latvian tradition, which is still alive in some of the traditional bakeries.

A sign was pressed on the longish load with one’s fingers or side of palm. Most often it was a cross, inclined cross or lines.

A nice note was from Lutrini about Kurzeme crossing cross – sign of Mara. First, the usual cross is pressed on the loaf with the side of palm. When pressing the first line, one says – May it not burn, when crossing the second – May it not remain raw, then all four are crossed with a finger and it is said – There will be enough for poor! There will be enough for the ones on the way! There will be bread for kids! There will be enough for ourselves!

Women in Vidzeme have drawn also a pine needle or ear and it was called a fire sign. The inclined cross drawn with four fingers is original.

People in Zemgale have like the simple inclined cross.

In ​​​​​​​Latgale – a cross.

During the Christmas, ​​​​​​​the festive loafs were blessed by drawing a sun sign or eight-line cross one them. Notches were pressed on the side so that the bread doesn’t crack when baking.

There can't be any traditional celebration without dance and music :)

According to an ancient Latvian belief, on Miķeļdiena you can't bring home any pine needles; otherwise the snakes will come.