XI International Folklore Festival Viru Säru

July 5th and 6th 2008
Jäneda, Estonia

Welcome to the XI International Folklore

Festival Viru Säru in Jäneda!

For the first time during its 22 year long history in Jäneda, this time is theme „Money – wealth and poverty.“ Estonian folklore ensembles and foreign guests from Greece, Serbia, Hungary and Karelia (Russia), Netherland etc. (about 700 performers) present main topic. Besides folk songs, dances and music, funny stories about money can be heard and told, exhibition of coin decorations, money and national costumes are demonstrated. You can hear mystical stories about mammon in chat room, dance whole night accompanied with popular ensemble Kihnu Boys etc. etc.  This is the only one authentic folklore festival in Estonia at all.

Viru Säru is unique cultural programme for whole family.

Please, do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail for more information virol@virol.ee


Festival's programme

Saturday, July 5th

1.30 pm - starts the opening procession at the restaurant "Musta Täku Tall"

2.00 pm - opening of the festival, performances on different stands (main stand, guest's stand, humor stand etc.) during whole day

9.00 pm - evening dance party with live band music "Kihnu poisid"

Sunday, July 6th

12.00 am - midday dances

2.00 pm - big final concert

Guest ensembles are from Greece, Serbia, Hungary, Russia and Belarus

Special exhibition in Jäneda Manor "Coin and ornament in Estonian popular tradition"

Tickets awailable on site, day-tickets 50 EEK (special tickets for children and pensioners 30 EEK)

HISTORY OF PREVIOUS FESTIVALS VIRU SÄRU

Assumingly, first folklore festival by name Viru Säru that took place 1986 in Estonia, in Lahemaa National Park, was the first folklore festival in Estonia. To that soon followed folklore festivals in other counties. Names of folklore festivals all over Estonia, born from Viru Säru, got names spontaneuosly by name form of Viru Säru – place and local name of dance festival: Kirde killad, Viljandimaa virred, Tartumaa trallam, Jõgeva jaskar etc.

Art director of 5 first festivals Viru Säru was mrs Maie Orav, since 6th mr Igor Tõnurist.

To every Viru Säru has added colour and content some certain topic, which does not exclude to a small extent programmes of other topics:

Protest Säru in 1986 - against promoting national folk culture in socialistic contents and in national form;

Danger Säru in 1987 - becoming aware of crisis in USSR and awakening people to free spirit; protest against maining phosphorite in Virumaa;

Pendant Säru in 1989 - it was tried to unify säru with Baltic folklore festival Baltica, but fortunately became clear that säru is much more than small pendant of a big festival.

Northern Säru in 1990 - säru was tried to unify with Nordlek festivals, fortunately Nordlek system didn't trust yet our slight independence. But then sang-danced in säru many Norse people;

Disabled Säru in 1992 - many groups of physically and mentally disabled people participated from Estonia and Nordic Countries. It was revolutionary undertaking, that brought activities of disabled people to a new level;

Säru of Changes in 1995 - was asked, if joining with Europe endangers culture of small nations, more attention was paid to runic song and to music playing; Fun stage and Open stage were added to programme;

Strength and skill säru in 1997 - all kind of  national games were performed: pushing the log, walking on wheel etc;

Fun Säru in 2000 - scarecrows were made and these were baptized as participants of säru; funny songs were sung, performed choir of  birdsong;

Swing Säru in 2003 - were swing and all that goes together with swing – starting with swing songs and ending with „kiiking“; for the first time took place church service together with singing folkloric church songs. As a protest against cutting forests, sacrifice was made to ancient tree;

Wedding and love säru in 2006 - traditional wedding jokes and – parodies were performed. Wedding court took place. Love glowed in every song and game and from exhibition of Open Air Museum „Estonian love.“