Christmas party in Edmonton

Dave Kiil

During the first weekend in December, Edmonton-area members of the Alberta Estonian Heritage Society gathered in Betty Ann and Dave Kiil’s home to celebrate the onset of the Holiday Season. The entire evening was filled with good cheer and conversations with old and new-found friends. Young and old, from six years to a few years older, enjoyed the camaraderie and a buffet-style spread of delicacies to tempt the most discriminating taste buds.

The latest issue of the Society’s newsletter, Ajakaja, was picked up at the printer’s the day before and it was distributed to those in attendance. Articles about Society members and activities, news about Estonia, and contributions from several correspondents in Estonia and Canada resulted in the largest edition to date.

Estonia’s National Song Festival or “Laulupidu” was launched in 1869 and has continued as the centerpiece of the nation’s self-expression for independence and her passion for music.

Anyone fortunate enough to witness the spectacle in person usually describes the experience as “overwhelming, impressive, awesome, highly emotional, etc.” The showing of “25,000 Sing”, a DVD about the 2004 Song Festival in Tallinn, elicited mostly the same comments from the people who viewed the video. Some even speculated about traveling to Tallinn for the next Song Festival in 2009, whereas others expressed interest in obtaining their own DVD of the event.

By all accounts, it was a very successful social event and accommodated the older members of the Society who find it challenging to travel long distances to attend provincial functions.