Lamproba festival: a magic Georgian tradition that survived through centuries

3 min read

10 months ago Ivan

Lamproba is a unique festival celebrated in the Svaneti region of Georgia.
Known as the Festival of Lights, it symbolizes the end of winter and the anticipation of spring and, during the celebration, locals gather in cemeteries after dark to light fires made from birchwood that serve as a beacon of hope for the coming season.
The event is also a time for families to honor their ancestors with prayers and special rituals, creating a meaningful connection between the past and the present.
With families coming together around the flickering lights, the festival is a vivid display of the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Many prepare lemziri, a traditional bread with cheese filling, during the festival.

The most widespread legend is that it was carried out in Svaneti in order to determine the number of warriors, while another version is that Lamproba was a kind of pagan ritual that aimed to ask the deities for better crops and weather.
But there is another version that tells that according to Svan tradition, the lamps were aimed at warming the souls of the dead.
Lamproba is linked to the moon calendar, which is why it is celebrated in different periods of the year, mainly in February or March.
Either way the festival has deep roots in the Svaneti region, where it has been celebrated for centuries, and It began as a pagan ritual to honor ancestors and seek blessings for the coming year.
Its name comes from the word “lampari,” which means light and, in the past, every family in the village would make a torch from birch wood, a tree considered sacred.
The festival’s origins are unclear, but it’s believed to have started long before Christianity reached the region as a way for communities to come together during the harsh winter months, when people would pray for protection and good fortune in the year ahead.
Over time, the celebration evolved to include Christian elements while keeping its unique customs alive.
The festival holds a deep significance for the community, as it is believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead. Svans prepare lamps made from birch, which has a sacred meaning in their culture, carefully crafted and dried throughout winter, ensuring they burn brightly during the celebration.
Different villages have their own variations, but the core tradition remains the same: lighting torches and gathering at cemeteries to honor the dead.
But this tradition is more than just a visual spectacle, as it is also a heartfelt expression of faith and unity.
This act symbolizes the connection between the living and those who have passed.
Today, Lamproba is a blend of ancient practices and modern customs, still widely celebrated with great respect and joy in Svaneti.