Thank you to all the vendors, volunteers, scouts, bakers, silent auction & raffle donors, Enno Agur for leading us in carol singing, Erik Veski for his “verivorstid” and “rukkileib”, and the list goes on. Thanks to Ene Lomp for helping us arrange to have the Jazz Band from Northern SS play at our Christmas Craft Sale and Café - what a hit for the visitors! A huge thank you to the crowds that continued to flow through all day long for your support and fellowship! We are truly blessed and grateful. What an amazing day!
Any translation of the Toronto Estonian Men’s Choir motto is awkward and does not capture its emotional timbre: “Alati sinule kodumaa, kõlagu vabada meeste laul”.
As the few bars of song ritually open TEM’s concerts, audiences, hearing the adage, rise. The tune and words are instantly recognizable as the essence of TEM, an en-during institution of Estonians abroad.
The motto, with Roman Toi’s music and Henrik Visnapuu’s words, represents a pursuit of freedom and defiance of the foreign. The maestro had pride in TEM’s ability to get that message across to all audiences, whatever their background. It was natural in the late 1980s to have this “vabade meeste laul” missive resonate in Estonia’s “Singing Revolution”.
Why have Ukrainians from the outset of the invasion of their homeland rushed to pile sandbags to protect their churches and other cultural landmarks? Why do Estonians in Toronto appear bent on rushing to demolish theirs?
Why have Ukrainians from the outset of the invasion of their homeland rushed to pile sandbags to protect their churches and other cultural landmarks? Why do Estonians in Toronto appear bent on rushing to demolish theirs?
Saturday, November 27 saw a Global Forum of Estonians Abroad, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conducted virtually, via live-link. It brought together Estonians worldwide, and was introduced by President Alar Karis.