The Estonian Song and Dance celebration is far more than just time of beautiful music and tradition. It is a national protest for freedom from Soviet oppression and now a celebration of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The tradition began in 1869 and has continued to this day no matter the political climate. It has been a way for the people of Estonia to continue to have faith in that God given right of liberty.
It continued on through the Soviet time of slavery but not without consequences. When the Laulupidu was held in 1947 and a song wishing for freedom from Soviet bondage was sung every conductor was arrested and sent to the Gulags. In 1960 some 150,000 Estonians meet for the Song Festival and sang the song of nationalism and freedom without a conductor then one elderly gentleman rose up and began to lead those on the giant stage in the song.
Since 1950 the Song Festival has been held every five years.
In 1988 began the Singing Revolution when hundreds of thousands of people gathered every night for a week to sing songs of independence , freedom and Estonian patriotic songs.
ESTONIA GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM SOVIET CONTROL IN 1991.
In November 2003 UNESCO declared Estonia's Song and Dance Celebration a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
A living proof that the human spirit and soul will only be taken into poverty and slavery when we allow it to happen, but by the God given spark in mans soul for liberty and freedom evil can be over come. Perhaps sometimes by song and dance and in defiance of cruel and unjust taskmasters.
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