Mazirbe (Livonian: 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.
Mazirbe
Livonian: Irē | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Livonian culture centre in Mazirbe with flags on display during annual meeting. | |
| Motto: Cultural capital of the Livonians. | |
  Mazirbe Location in Latvia | |
| Coordinates: 57°41′N 22°19′E / 57.683°N 22.317°E | |
| Country |  Latvia |
| Municipality | Talsi Municipality |
| Parish | Kolka Parish |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2005) | |
• Total | 134 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | LV-3273 Mazirbe |
The flag of the Livonians has flown over the Livonian House of the People (Latvian: Lībiešu tautas nams or Līvu tautas nams, Livonian: 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'.
See also
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Media related to Mazirbe at Wikimedia Commons
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