Latvia

Greetings

Men greeting Men - Men usually shake hands when greeting one another. A relatively firm handshake is the norm. It is considered polite by many to allow elders or people in superior positions to extend their hands first.

Women greeting Women- At a first meeting, women generally shake hands. Good friends and family often exchange a single kiss on the cheek.

Greetings between Men & Women- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do. Many times a simple nod of acknowledgment will suffice. It is considered polite by many to allow the woman to extend her hand first. Good friends and family may exchange a single kiss on the cheek.

Communication Style

• Latvians tend to be polite, formal, and reserved during initial meetings.
• Periods of silence are to be expected during conversations and it’s best to avoid interrupting someone while they are speaking.
• It is best to convey a sense of calm and avoid overly loud voices and displays of emotion like anger or frustration in public.
• It's best not to take it personally if people are reserved in the beginning; they usually warm up after time.

Personal Space & Touch

• Latvians tend to value their personal space. The appropriate amount of personal space tends to be an arm’s length or more with strangers and usually a bit less with friends and family.
• There tends to very little to no touching during conversations.
• The younger generation tends to be more open and a brush of shoulder/hand is okay. It is common to see women/girls walk hand in hand on the street. This is also common for young couples.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is acceptable, but people usually don’t look into the speaker's eyes the whole the time.
• Avoiding the other person’s eyes completely is usually thought to be sly and show that one is hiding something. The most common practice is looking at the speaker's face and occasionally directly to the eyes

Gestures

• Pointing with a single finger is considered rude. It’s best to use the whole hand.

Views of Time

• Being late and not calling to let the person know is definitely rude. 5 minutes late is usually okay.
• In most business situations, punctuality is expected and appreciated.
• In most social situation, being somewhat late tends to be accepted but keeping someone waiting for more than 10 minutes is usually considered rude.
• Transportation services (trains, buses, etc.) usually run on time.

Gender Roles

• Gender roles are quite equal when it comes to the workforce. Women hold positions of power in most all areas.
• When it comes to social etiquette, men are still expected to be chivalrous. It is common to see men helping women out of cars, opening doors, pulling chairs out at restaurants, etc.
• Careers are important for many women and they have the freedom to pursue them.

Taboos

• Avoid referring to Latvians as Russians. This can cause great offense.
• Swearing, showing the middle finger, sticking out your tongue, and exposing intimate body parts are all considered taboo.
• Being very drunk in public, spitting, and yawing without covering your mouth are to be avoided as well.

Law & Order

• The legal smoking & drinking age is 18 and is somewhat enforced.
• Penalties for possession, acquisition, and trafficking of drugs are severe and include fines and/or mandatory lengthy imprisonment in local jails.