Latvia Local Custom Tips by in4ik Top 5 Page for this destination

1. Languages: All three national languages are different. Lithuanian and Latvian are related, but Estonian isn’t even in the same language family.

2. Each other: For all the proclamations about joint Baltic cooperation, Balts spend a surprising amount of time ignoring each other. If asked, most Balts would be hard pressed to name a single cultural figure from one of the other Baltics, whereas they could probably name many from Russia or Sweden.

3. History: They share the Soviet occupation in common, but beyond that, their histories have been varied, especially Lithuania’s.

4. Orientation: All three nations tend to look to and be influenced by different regions. Estonians have the best links with Finland and Scandinavia; the Latvians, with the Germans and to a lesser degree with the Scandinavians; and the Lithuanians with the Poles, the rest of Central Europe and also the Americans.

5. Religion: Latvia and Estonia do share Lutheranism, the predominant religion in both countries. But Lithuanians are Catholic, and, as a rule, they also tend to be more religious.