| |
 | Speeches | | |
The President of the Republicat the Celebration of St. Olaf's Day and the Song Festival of the Western Deanery of the EELC on July 29, 2002, in Vormsi29.07.2002
Dear People of Vormsi,
Dear Guests from far and near,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
St. Olaf's Day marking in the Estonian popular calendar the start of the harvest-time, in its sacramental meaning, could be regarded as a connecting bridge between the Estonians and the Scandinavians. The early history of Vormsi tells us about the island as a bridgehead of the Vikings, but the later history is an example how a small community of the coastal Swedes has shared their fate with the people and state of Estonia.
It has not been easy. Unlike the peasants in mainland-Estonia the Swedes of Estonia could preserve their rights of free peasants even under tsarist rule, but World War II jumbled up their traditional settlement here. And so, today we are facing rather memories than reality.
Yet one cannot find his fulfilment without being aware of his roots. The home of our ancestors or childhood is linking us with earlier generations. The stronger those links the more confidently we can feel in future. Poet Gustav Suits once wrote a poem of the name "Oma saar" (One's Own Island), which later became a choral song. In this poem a singer is yearning for the home of his dreams. Happy are those, who can view some island as their parents', childhood's, or present home. And in today's connection - if this island happens to be such a wonderful one like Vormsi.
It is incumbent both on the people of Vormsi, on the County of Lääne and on the Republic of Estonia, on the one hand, to preserve Vormsi in its original state, but, on the other hand, to prevent the island from turning into a marginal region. In Estonia, every place must be worth living in. Everyone having tied his fate to Estonia, or having grown up here, must feel being of use and expected.
This day's song festival of the Western Deanery, no doubt, is destined for strengthening our spiritual ties. We have had times in which the song festivals were but the only chance to our people to reveal unity and hopes.
But now, already for more than ten years our people free again are singing in a free country - a part of which is also Vormsi. Let our songs carry, alongside an awareness of eternity, joy and concerns, also a message of a nation who, like a big family, is holding on to its place under the sun.
I wish your hearts be filled with happiness and peace, and the sense of beauty manifested in our singing to survive!
|
| |
|
vpk.ee
