In a bold and heartwarming gesture, the Riga City Council has officially designated November 18th as 'Diena Pelēka,' a public holiday celebrating the omnipresent grey skies that blanket the city for at least 342 days a year. The decision was passed unanimously after a proposal submitted by the Riga Meteorological Society garnered an unprecedented wave of public support.

Riga City Council spokesperson, Andris Purvins, explained the rationale behind the new holiday at a press conference this Tuesday. 'We believe it's time to embrace what truly makes Riga unique. Our grey skies are as much a part of our identity as our charming Art Nouveau architecture, our cultural festivals, and our rigorous skepticism towards any temperature above 10 degrees Celsius,' Purvins declared amid the gentle drizzle that marked the day's weather.

Local resident Maija Jansone, a self-proclaimed grey sky enthusiast, expressed her delight at the announcement. 'I've always found something romantic in our drab horizon. It's mother nature’s canvas, ready for the imagination to paint brighter colors. Plus, it’s much easier to decide what to wear when the forecast is reliably monochrome,' Jansone admitted.

In an effort to make 'Diena Pelēka' a memorable affair, city planners have arranged a series of events to ensure that the day is both educational and delightfully predictable. Activities will include a 'Fifty Shades of Grey Sky' photo competition, a comprehensive workshop on the art of layering clothes for maximum gloom-comfort, and an evening poetry reading titled 'Clouds: The Unchanging Sentinels.'

Local weather historian, Professor Ivars Lekstutis, has been a vocal advocate for recognizing the cultural significance of grey skies in Latvia. 'For too long, we have associated the grey skies with gloom, when in reality, they have been our most faithful companions. Historically, it’s what's stopped invaders from bothering us time and time again,' Lekstutis stated passionately during a cloud appreciation seminar. 'It's time we celebrated that.'

The announcement has also sparked interest among international meteorological tourism agencies, who are adding Riga to their itineraries under the banner 'Discover 50 Shades of Atmospheric Consistency.' The new holiday is expected to boost tourism in the normally off-peak month of November, with the city anticipating a modest increase in visitors hoping to experience the famed enigmatic light of northern Europe.

Despite the holiday's positive reception, critics have voiced concerns over the economic impact of adding another public holiday to the calendar. In response, Minister of Finance, Egle Rasina, reassured skeptics by pointing out, 'The locals will probably stay indoors or in cafes debating the subtle variations of grey. Productivity will likely increase simply from the collective morale boost. It’s a win-win.'

In the weeks leading up to the inaugural 'Diena Pelēka,' the optimism is palpable in the air—or perhaps a trick of the melancholic mist. Rigan residents appear ready to showcase their resilience and pride in embracing a climate that is as reliably unpredictable as the city’s public transport timetable.

Experts have predicted up to an 84% chance of drizzling fanfare, with intermittent showers of poetry and, universally, high spirits. And with a gentle nod to the weather, everyone agrees: it's best to plan for rain and hope for rain.