Festival '98 Homepage Wisconsin The Philippines Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin The Baltic Nations	The 1998 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Photo Gallery Estonia
			Estonian participants from the group Kihnumua enjoy a giant swing. Photo by John Loggins Ounapuu/Kaljusti, "The Apple Tree"   (audio file of Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)
	The preservation of national culture and identity has been vital to Estonian history. Like the other Baltic nations, Estonia used song to perpetuate tradition as well as combat oppression. In fact, the first Estonian song festival was organized in 1869 in Tartu, attracting some 800 participants and 4,000 spectators. During Soviet occupation, the Communist government tried to make the festival more "Soviet" in nature by decreasing the number of Estonian works and by making works praising the Soviet Union compulsory. Estonia's "Singing Revolution" began in 1988 when the annual Tallinn city festival turned into several all-night songfests in which thousands of people waved national flags and sang patriotic songs. This was a peaceful revolution, without pain or bloodshed. Since independence in 1991 Estonians have worked to preserve folk traditions through festivals of authentic folklore. Their goal has been to bridge ancient cultural heritage and contemporary culture by aquainting people with authentic traditional Estonian customs, songs, dances, music, games, tales and crafts.
	Estonians from the group Leigarid performing at Baltic Main Stage. Photo by Lee Bickerstaff Estonians musicians. Photo by Lee Bickerstaff Estonian woman in traditional dress from the Setumaa region. Photo by Jeff Tinsley Film for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival was graciously provided by FUJIFILM USA Folklife Homepage/ Folkways Homepage / Feedback