Latvian Spelloff

With a series of events today and tomorrow, Latvia's Foreign Ministry will commemorate the day of Latvia's international recognition. Diplomatic representatives from around the world will take place in snowman building competition in Riga parks, as well the fifteen annual Spellorama, Latvia's spelling bee for ambassadors. Traditionally, ambassadors are asked to spell obscure Latvian proper nouns (Dienvidu, Saulkrasti were last year's stumpers), as well as to recite a long list of male Latvian names without laughing.