Day 4 - A Midsummer Day

​After we got ourselves together we headed off to Argo’s families houses for some more celebrations for midsummer and a 53rd wedding anniversary. On the way we saw some beautiful stalks close up, as well as bog stalks! The legend is if you point at a stalk, and you are a woman, you will fall pregnant! The bog stalks are the brown ones and regular ones are white, who knew there were two different varieties! First we went to the local shop and I found a lighter with the Viru-Nigula design on it! I was so excited!! Then we headed off to Argo’s sisters house, which is over 100 years old and has an outhouse. I really liked the gardens here come on all the flowers with the green grass and the forest in the background. It really made me feel like I was really in southern Estonia and I was just enjoying taking it all in. My family left me in this house because there were some English speaking people that were younger and I really wanted to have a shower, because the place we were staying did not have a shower or a toilet. It was really nice getting to know these people and we shared some really nice stories. After we had a small meal we started making our way to Argo’s parents house. On the way we had to stop and find some corn flowers and we did not have to drive for very long before we found them. We picked some corn flowers to take for the anniversary and I was just in awe  of how easy it was to just stop on the side of the road and pick an abundance of cornflowers. These are the national flowers of Estonia.

​Once we arrived at the party we sat down at the table and had some amazing conversations. Of course there was more food like there always is, and of course we had to have some. One of Argo’s sisters had made a savoury sandwich cake with chicken. I have had a fish version of this but I really liked the chicken one that she made it was really good. After some time in conversations the kids wanted to go to this fun park that some of the boys were working at. So I took myself and a few of the kids and we went to this fun land, or traffic city. Once we got there I was amazed at how much was there and what was an offer, with the younger kids riding around in some of the electric cars and the young adults going in go carts. There was a haunted house, a disco room, and so many little activities for people to do including a mini roller coaster. I really liked the area that had the diggers coma and I feel like my nephew would have loved this. When we were at one part of the grounds I remember looking out at the forest and just taking it all in that I was in southern Estonia and just looking out at the forest. This really gave me a sense of common grounding but it was nothing compared to what was to come later on in the day. I really enjoyed listening to the birds singing as it was so quiet and I paid attention to what I could hear and how I felt and it felt like coming home, to southern Estonia where my heart really is.

​After we had finished here we started driving to the oldest oak tree known to be in existence, which is about 800 years old. What I noticed when we were walking towards it was how big it was and I was amazed that this tree was still standing. As we approached the tree I was told that we had to make a big circle around it and lucky for us there was enough of us to do it so we stood against the tree and made a big circle, almost like a hug for the tree. I was then told to just put my hand on it on my body, and just feel the energy of the tree. In that moment I didn't think anything of it however I did it and I'm really glad I did because later on, perhaps maybe an hour or so, I felt this incredible sense of common grounding and I had the best night sleep I've had in a very long time. What I did notice on this tree was a metal rod, which is used for electricity and lightning. Some years ago the lightning hit the tree and split it, so they had to repair it and they put a lightning rod up the tree to catch it so it didn't happen again. I thought this was pretty cool.

After we left the tree we went back to Argo’s parents house for more food and more festivities. I was then told we were going to another Midsummer party. We took a short drive and went to another village hall, where there was fairy floss, potatoes on a stick, and other delicious local food and beer for us to enjoy. Before the lighting of the fire there was a small play in the community hall and we happen to walk in at a point which was a little bit naughty. After the play had finished we were talking outside and waiting for the festivities to begin, and it did start raining a little bit. There was a competition that was being held where you had to milk a cow and whoever could milk the cow the fastest and get the most milk would win a rooster. I thought this was a very interesting competition, Needless to say I did not participate. There was a lady there with the skirt for Urvaste, it was stunning and I just had to get a photo. After a little bit more time we saw the flames being brought to the fire. I was told it is the same flame that is brought around Estonia which was lit for the purpose of lighting the cauldron at the song festival. This started a few weeks ago and has been travelling around Estonia, much like the Olympic flame, and the fire from this torch is used to light all the fires around Estonia for Midsummer. This is something I learned during this trip and I think it's a really special way of celebrating Midsummer in Estonia. Once the fire was late and we had had enough of celebrating we went back to Argo’s place and decided to go to sleep. Overall it was a very good day and full of celebration, people, conversation, and I really enjoyed Argo’s family. They are the kindest and most hospitable every time we come to Estonia and I cannot wait to see them again.
Until tomorrow
Marissa xx