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'.