I am now at home looking at these photos and thinking that I will never forget this momentous event. This year's Laulupidu, sharing it with my dear sister, cousin, my boyfriend, my lovely friends from Toronto and Vancouver, will remain in my memories for the rest of my life. It's hard to explain to you, how a choral music festival can move someone so much. The last 5 years, this entire trip, the residency all leaded up to this event. Singing, parading and simply being in Tallinn in this time connects me to my family's past, present and future, it connects me to my mom who never got to see us singing in this free Estonia, it connects me to a bigger stronger force that can give people hope in times of ruthless dictatorship and injustices currently happening in Russia, Ukraine, in the Middle East and so on.
Here, my sister and I are both dressed in our traditional costumes. I am technically wearing the incorrect blouse for the skirt of my grandmother's (which comes from my grandfather's county, Rapla), my grandmother's vöö (belt). My sister's costume is from an unknown place (probably invented by a seamstress in Ontario in the 1960s) but was lovingly worn by my mother in her youth. The flower garlands were made by a lovely group of ladies selling flowers down the road from Vana Tallinn. :)
The last photo taken above was by my friend Kristin Dobbin who modeled in the first photo. To see more of her work: http://www.kristendobbin.com/