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As revealed by groundbreaking study into durability of song and dance festivals, the tradition is very strong indeed for now – but cannot be taken for granted.
Estonians: united by song and dance
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As revealed by the study My Song and Dance Celebration, ordered by Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation, an absolute majority i.e. 96 per cent of the 1,000 plus people interviewed considers Song and Dance Celebrations an important event. What’s more: two thirds deem it very important.
A half of those questioned had personally participated in song and dance celebrations; two thirds had been involved multiple times, at least as spectators.
«In spite of fears and prejudices we may occasionally harbour regarding the youth, it appears that the song and dance celebration does have very strong roots,» acknowledged Marju Lauristin, the main engine of the study.
«On the other hand: even though a very sustainable tradition right now, this is not to be taken overly for granted, as we may detect certain shifts and changes,» she added.
According to Ms Lauristin, the study did prove the grand festival has turned into a ritual of great dignity, elation, national awareness – related to statehood.
«On the other hand, for the youth especially, it is another kind of emotional excitement, not so much related to national elation; rather, it’s the immediate participation with no clear institutional framework,» commented Ms Lauristin. «Surely, these two are not contradictory by nature.»
According to Ms Lauristin, it may be said that as at 2013 the tradition – called by her the main root text of Estonianhood – stands steadfast and may seem unshakeable.
«We shouldn’t be so careless and think it will stand all by itself. Looking some 10 or 20 years ahead, issues may arise should we not consider these now: will the kids of today’s 15 and 25 year olds still sing and dance?» asked the social scientist. «Will they still be willing to do their singing and dancing in the traditional song and dance festival format? Will it keep playing a role that large?»
These questions, in Ms Lauristin, were triggered by the way the youth relate to the festival tradition. «With the attitudes projected by youth, it is more of the grassroots, networking, freewheeling around the values, thereby altering the essence of the values,» said she.
Ms Lauristin explained it is not the issue of the youth always being different; rather, it is the changes in the contemporary, postmodernist world.
«The world of today is a bit more fragmented; with more emphasis on the immediate, present-day experience. The issue being: how largely will the globalisation, the international postmodernist currents impact our song and dance celebration tradition,» mused Ms Lauristin.
A large percentage of those questioned were of the opinion that song and dance celebration is a process worthy of state support. For most, it is not entertainment.
According to Sten Weidebaum, information chief at Song and Dance Celebration Foundation and author of idea/narrative of the 2014 event, the study serves to prove that youth celebrations have an especially vital role in maintaining the tradition.
«The key to sustainability of the process is offering the youth options for participation; considering the way they esteem involvement, opportunity to sing and dance along – rather than sit as spectators,» said he.
Song festivals dating back a century and a half, on November 7th Estonia’s traditions, together with those of Latvia and Lithuania, celebrate ten years of being listed as UNESCO cultural heritage.