After some time, Taimi and I ventured out to the stalls, before it started raining. There was just so much food available, but lucky we had our Pirukad. There was Estonian garlic bread, potatoes on a stick and even pickles in a jar! There were so many stalls, which I suppose is a good thing as there were over 128,000 people part of the festival, either performing or watching the singing. We had a look at some lovely stalls with Estonian related clothes and items and it was here I started a conversation with Remi. Let’s just say I might be starting another little side hustle, once I can work out how it will go. We also met his partner who designs the beautiful linen dresses, with the designer name Miria. She was beautiful and when I shared with her I bought one of her dresses four years ago, she was very excited and wondered which one it was I bought. I shared with her when I wear it, it feels like a modern Estonian piece of clothing and I really like what she designs, not to mention people in Australia know of her designs and really enjoy them. We saw the most gorgeous Muhu boots but they only had size 38 left, a bit to small for me. I remember seeing them last time but again, they didn’t have my size.
It was about that time in the afternoon where we had to have some coffee so Taimi and I went out to get some. The line was REALLY long as I assume everyone else had the same idea. At one point we thought we spent $8.70 on coffee, which was literally black coffee with milk in it, but then we realised if you give back your cup you get some money back for it, as a way of reducing waste and recycling. When we went back in, we stayed there. I was starting to dry off, which was lovely but still not going to get dry until I got home. Something I noticed when I had gone back in and the kids were going back on stage was there was something being carried up the stairs to near the top of the stage who had their leg in cast and someone else was carrying their wheelchair up the stairs. In that moment I reflected on the commitment and honour involved in being part of this Laulupidu and people will perform, rain, hail, shine, or even broken limbs. It is something very special in our history and people will make sure they can sing in it at all costs.
The concert continued, the rain held off for the most part, until right near the end. It is customary that close to the end, before the iconic songs are sung, that all the key players, conductors, organisers etc are given big wreathes to wear around their necks as a sign of honour. But before we got to that part, and ALL the choirs were on stage, all the choir teachers were invited onto the stage and received bunches of flowers, there must have been over 100 of them, from each side, joining all the kids on stage to perform the last songs. The other thing I noticed, and this is usual for Laulupidu but something I didn’t get clarified until yesterday, was after each song they invite the song writer and composer up onto the podium and oh my, the performers just cheer them so loudly and with so much pride, it is incredible. One of the things I found that brought so much joy, throughout the day, was watching the conductors. They have so much passion and energy for what they do and the move their whole bodies to conduct the choir of 28,000 youth singers. It was wonderful and a pleasure to watch. Once the key players had been honoured, they preceded to sing some of the iconic songs, first of all being Ta Lendab Mesipuu Poole. Well this is when the tears started. There is so much emotion and significance of this song, in our history. It is about the honey bees and apple trees, related to the monument we visited a few days earlier. It talks about people who are being deported and coming home to the apple trees, much like the honey bees. To watch the performance, click this link. It was incredible and the singers demanded to sing it twice. What I loved was how, and it was getting darker so the effect was incredible, they just took out their phones and had their lights on and it looked like little fairies dancing around the stage. It was an incredible moment and I adored how they wanted to do it a second time. For a moment it looked like the Conductor was not going to do it because he was soaked, not wearing a poncho or hat, he had glasses and I know the struggles, but HE DID! They were all so proud to sing it a second time and the Conductor was encouraging everyone in the crowed to sing this song. Over 128,000 people singing this song, I could only imagine what the folks from the time of Soviet Occupation would have felt in this moment, it would be absolutely incomprehensible given its significance and meaning, words can’t even describe the experience and I think doubled with the rain, it made it even more special. It shows how important this event is for Estonian’s, young, old and everyone in between. One of the most incredible moments of my life and one I will never forget and so grateful to having being part of. They then preceded to sing “Mu Isamaa on Minu Arm” (My fatherland, my love). This again, was beautiful and full of emotions. This was somewhat the unofficial anthem during Soviet Occupation, because back then it was illegal to sing the national anthem and all these songs we enjoy today. If you want to know more on how the singing revolution impacted our history, click here for the trailer to the movie. I have a copy of it but only in DVD form, it is a challenging movie to come by. They didn’t sing a lot of the classics, but I suspect if it was a sunny day they would have sung more. As the festival was ending the singers were chanting “Tuljak, Tuljak” which they clearly wanted to sing, but because of the rain I suspect they didn’t. Usually the festival will go for hours more than it is meant to because they keep singing songs over and over and ones not on the program, but unfortunately not this year. There was a moment during close to the end of the festival before it started raining again where they were singing a song “Tuuline eleegia” (Windy) and on stage, they had a beautiful dance to go with it, while standing in place. This song was specifically written for this year and was really something special. They wanted to sing this song again, and during the second performance, there was a dance group, down the front who were doing the dance associated to this song. That is something I really like about the Estonian culture and things like the song and dance festival, sure there are programs and things need to stick to time, BUT there is also a relaxed attitude and allowing people to experience things in such a way that it isn’t rushed but rather celebrated when it comes to expressing yourself through song and dance. It was a really special moment to witness this and again, I am grateful, because at this point, with so many people leaving, we managed to get front row seats and it was incredible. On the way out, I couldn’t believe it, we were up close and personal with Valter Soosalu! One of the amazing Conductors who I really enjoy watching, for obvious reasons. Taimi was kind enough to snap the pic. When we told him we were from Australia, he was so impressed we had come all this way just to enjoy the performance. We were somewhat in a hurry because at this point we had lost mum in the crowed but thankfully we found her again. After the performance, we made our way back to Vanalinn, slowly, walking about 1.6km to Kadriorg Palace where the trams were running because the roads were closed for a while longer. When we got back, everything was soaked and our shoes are still! It was different experiencing Laulupidu in torrential rain, but it didn’t make me sad, upset, frustrated or anything. Instead, I was incredibly grateful to be able to be part of it and just enjoyed the experiences I had for what they were, which would make for some great stories one day. I can’t wait for 2025!
Marissa xx
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