Most Estonian?

In Facebook there is a group "You know you are from Estonian when..." where Estonians and people knowing Estonians have gathered lots of great and funny observations about Estonians. Like for example:

You know you are from Estonian when...

1. You use the word ‘normal’ if something is ok.
...
24. Your best friend's girlfriend is your English teacher's daughter and they live next door to your grandparents, who were colleagues with your advisor, who is friends with your...
...
61. "Ühesõnaga" means that a really long explanation is coming
...
93. When you hear "Kristina", you think of Shmigun, not Aguilera.
...
141. You say to a foreigner "Sure! I'll help you learn the Estonian language!", and then you disappear...
...
148. As a child you went looking for a fern flower on Jaaniõhtu.


In the moment it ends with number 148 and still says "to be continued..."...
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art by 5-year-old Mari Lee "an one"

Least religious?

The BBC reported that Estonia was the least religous country... by survey.
But do Estonians believe in anything?... or thats what they ask.
You can hear the radio version here This is quite interesting radio programme and includes a lot of interesting cultural and historical points... some can be read in the written summary here.

Here are some stats from wikipedia and interestingly it seems to be the "Scandanavian" countries that seem to have a low percentage of "Religion". On this page there is an additional column that says "I believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 54% Estonians said yes to this, along with the Scandanvian countries too.

Anyway no real comment apart from that interesting comparison.
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art by 5-year-old Mari Lee "a two"

Sometimes

Sometimes
I need the rain.

The cooling shower
to stop me from wilting.
The downpour and thunderstorm
to clear the air.
Or just the cloudy parasol
shading me from the intense heat.

Yet

Sometimes
I need the sun.

The clear blue heavens
encouraging to grow.
The bright light
to awake and flower.
The warming sky-fire
then I can ripen.

But to bear fruit
Sometimes
I need both

by Ian August 2011

art by 5-year-old Mari Lee

And they Sung...

70,000 Estonians watched The Song for Freedom event in Tallinn. This is just a quick article to point you to a couple of news articles here and there.

The first article has a great link to a video of the coverage from Estonian TV! So you can watch the performances from the different bands. One being Brainstorm who I had seen live in Tallinn 2 years ago and are very good. They are from the fellow Baltic State.... Latvia!


Anyway there is a variety of music to watch and listen to at this link!
And this link from later on in the day!

The Song of Freedom

"The Estonian people are celebrating two important events this year – 20 years has passed from the 20th of August when Estonia re-gained its independence and the capital of Estonia, Tallinn is proud to be the European Capital of Culture in 2011"

And to celebrate is of course some singing! Many Estonian singers will be performing (more details here) but also including a 20 year delayed performance by Sinead O'Connor.

Also the day after is Iceland Day in Tallinn. This includes performances from Icelandic bands. More details available here.

You can also read my poetry on this blog from my trip to Iceland here.
Of course there poems about Estonia on here but I will let you look for them :) but here is a link to a little talk I did on Identity including Gustav Suits

2nd Anniversary

Ian thought it would be fitting to have an Estonian Poem on the 1st Anniversary Post.
I thought it would be fitting to have the non-poetic word-by-word translation of the 1st Anniversary Post poem here.

Korallid Emajõel
- Corals on Emajõgi

Betti Alver

Ikka meenuvad minutid
- still remember the minutes
millal
- when
viras vikerkaar
- the rainbow
üle vee.
- over the water

Me seisime raudsel sillal.
- We stood on the iron bridge
Sinu ees oli
- In front of you there was
raudne tee.
- the iron road.

Aeg raputas aardeid mu ette.
- Time shaked the treasures in front of me.
sinu ees oli
- in front of you there was
raudne tee.
- the iron road

Raudsillal
- On the iron bridge
viskasin vette
- I threw into the water
ma punakorallidest
kee.
- a necklace made of red corals.

Kõik mu aegade aarded on hallid.
- All the treasures of my times are grey
Jumet
- There is no complexion
pole ka jumalatõel.
- on the Truth of God either.

Veepõhjast
- From the bottom of the water
vaid punakorallid
- only the red corals
vahel vilavad
- sometimes shimer
Emajõel.
- on Emajõgi.

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poem by Betti Alver, found by Ian, translation here by Katrin
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee - the coral fish

Lood ja laulud

Sinugi lood on Sinu sees
- Your stories are inside You
ja piiluvad vahel välja.
- and peek out sometimes.
Kuigi kannad neid eneses,
- Although you carry them inside yourself,
saad nendega vahel nalja.
- sometimes some fun happens with them.

Sinu laulud on Sinu sees ja murravad vahel välja.
- Your songs are inside You and break out sometimes.
Räägivad Sinust enesest ja teevad Su kulul nalja.
- Talk about Yourself and make fun of You.

Sinu elu on Sinu ees. Alati ei tule välja.
- Your life is in front of You. Always it does not work out.
Hoolimata Su teenetest Sinustki teeb keegi nalja.
- Regardless of Your favors, someone makes fun of You, too.

Sinu hetked on Sinu sees. Keegi ei võta neid välja.
- Your moments are inside You. Nobody takes them out.
Parimates Su hetkedes ikka on killuke nalja.
- In the best of Your moments there alaways is a chip of fun.

Sinu naljad on Sinu sees. Kuidas küll saada nad välja?
- Your funny jokes are inside You. How to get them out?
Sügavamalgi südames juurdunud kurbuse viljad...
- In the deepest part of the heart the fruits of sadness have taken root...

Sinu kurbus on Sinu ees. Kes küll siit lasi ta välja?
- Your sadness is in front of You. Who on earth did let it out from here?
Tühjusetunne südames igatseb killukest nalja.
- Feeling of emptyness in the heart yearns for a chip of fun.

Sinu viljad on Sinu sees. Lase nad ometi välja!
- Your fruits are inside You. Let them yet out!
Oma laule Sa imetle kurbuses, tänus ja naljas!
- Your own songs do admire in sadness, in thanksgiving and in fun!
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by Katrin in June 2011
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee 'a sea, a sunset and a sunrise'