Mazirbe Explained

Official Name:Mazirbe
Native Name:Livonian

Irē

Settlement Type:Village
Motto:Cultural capital of the Livonians.
Pushpin Map:Latvia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Latvia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Municipality
Subdivision Name1:Talsi Municipality
Subdivision Type2:Parish
Subdivision Name2:Kolka Parish
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2005
Population Total:134
Timezone:EET
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:EEST
Utc Offset Dst:+3
Coordinates:57.6833°N 41°W
Elevation M:4
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:LV-3273 Mazirbe

Mazirbe (Irē or Piški Īra, German: Klein-Irben) is a village place in Kolka Parish, Talsi Municipality, Latvia 18 km southwest of Kolka. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda - the Livonian Coast. Mazirbe is the cultural capital of the Livonians.

The flag of the Livonians has flown over the Livonian House of the People (Latvian: Lībiešu tautas nams or Latvian: Līvu tautas nams, Līvõd rovkuodā), a cultural centre dating from 1938, built in the heart of the village with the support of linguistic cousins in Hungary, Finland and Estonia. Inside is a small museum showing photos of past generations of Livonians. On the first Sunday of August there is a Livonian gathering here, culminating in a procession to the beach where a wreath is cast into the sea in remembrance of fishermen who have met watery deaths. A camp for young people where only Livonian is spoken is held for a week beforehand. The Mazirbe plague stone is a unique feature of the village.

The name of the village in both Livonian and Latvian translates to 'Small Irbe/Irā', as opposed to Lielirbe or 'Great Irbe/Irā'.

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