More than 2 weeks ago I promised someone to send them an illustrated letter. I had plans about telling of Estonian werewolves, but then I got busy and ...
Sorry for answering in English - I have Russian keyboard only at work.
I do not think these turning to wolf folktales are very widespread, in fact I believe most Estonian schoolchildren would learn about the belief of (unlike in case of Western werewolves)people intentionally turning into wolves and back from literature course - play "Werewolf" by Kitzberg (written in 1914)is mandatory reading.
The heroine of this play, Tiina*, is blamed to be werewolf and in fact she DOES leave the village to live with wolves. Not very successfully, though.
* my sister is named Tiina also, and she was very amused when an older man who started to small talk with her in doctors waiting room reacted to her name with: "Tiina is someone who runs in forst with wolves!"
hmmm, I can't find online any Russian\English translation of this particular play (and any Estonian tales about werewolves BTW), but I've already downloaded "Сказки народов прибалтики" on my Kindle. well, that's a start! =)
Thanks for linking back to this entry! I have crawled under roots just like the ones you drew--if I had only known that with the addition of a few words, I might have transformed into a werewolf!
I love the mitten pattern (and the notion of mittens as a form of protection)--and I will have to develop a taste for rye bread so I can placate a werewolf with a piece.
Just imagine accidentally changing yourself into a werewolf!
Funny thing about the rye bread is that for couple of years I and my kids have been travelling with at least a loaf of it in the suitcase.
Not because of the werewolves, but for some strange reasons not only do my kids crave it when away from here (even if they never eat it when in Estonia - go figure!), but even my ex-husband and ex-father-in-law have gotten taste of it, so now they demand it also as gift from Estonia!
As for mittens - I love a set of postcards with mitten-patterns ... and now I just have to share a video from one of the big song festivals where you can see the conductor wearing pair of protective mittens under his belt, even if it is summer-time:
(And what is this song? I feel like I've heard it--is it famous? Has it been used (forgive the suggestion, but it's the only way I can think I might have heard it) in a video game? I was humming along at parts. (I really like it!)
If you have happened to see any dokumentary pieces or news about the Estonian Singing Revolution, then it is very possible that you HAVE heard bits of it.
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I do not think these turning to wolf folktales are very widespread, in fact I believe most Estonian schoolchildren would learn about the belief of (unlike in case of Western werewolves)people intentionally turning into wolves and back from literature course - play "Werewolf" by Kitzberg (written in 1914)is mandatory reading.
The heroine of this play, Tiina*, is blamed to be werewolf and in fact she DOES leave the village to live with wolves. Not very successfully, though.
* my sister is named Tiina also, and she was very amused when an older man who started to small talk with her in doctors waiting room reacted to her name with: "Tiina is someone who runs in forst with wolves!"
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I love the mitten pattern (and the notion of mittens as a form of protection)--and I will have to develop a taste for rye bread so I can placate a werewolf with a piece.
Reply
Funny thing about the rye bread is that for couple of years I and my kids have been travelling with at least a loaf of it in the suitcase.
Not because of the werewolves, but for some strange reasons not only do my kids crave it when away from here (even if they never eat it when in Estonia - go figure!), but even my ex-husband and ex-father-in-law have gotten taste of it, so now they demand it also as gift from Estonia!
As for mittens - I love a set of postcards with mitten-patterns ... and now I just have to share a video from one of the big song festivals where you can see the conductor wearing pair of protective mittens under his belt, even if it is summer-time:
http://youtu.be/R-fsTAnmNIY
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(And what is this song? I feel like I've heard it--is it famous? Has it been used (forgive the suggestion, but it's the only way I can think I might have heard it) in a video game? I was humming along at parts. (I really like it!)
Reply
If you have happened to see any dokumentary pieces or news about the Estonian Singing Revolution, then it is very possible that you HAVE heard bits of it.
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Funny, how I remembered it again today!
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