Estonian folklore
Encyclopedia
The earliest mentioning of Estonian singing dates back to Saxo Grammaticus
Gesta Danorum (c. 1179). Saxo speaks of Estonian warriors who sang at night while waiting for a battle. Henry of Livonia in the beginning of the 13th. century describes Estonian sacrificial customs, gods and spirits. In 1578 Balthasar Russow
describes the celebration of midsummer
, (jaanipäev) the St. John's Day. by Estonians. In 1644 Johann Gutslaff speaks of the veneration of holy springs and J.W. Boecler describes Estonian superstitious beliefs in 1685. Estonian folklore and beliefs including samples of folksongs appear in Topographische Nachrichten von Liv- und Estland by August W. Hupel in 1774–82. J.G von Herder publishes seven Estonian folksongs, translated into German in his Volkslieder (1778). republished as Stimmen der Völker in Liedern in 1807
In the beginning of the 19th century, during the Estophile Enlightenment Period(1750–1840) increased interest in Estonian folklore occurred among Baltic Germans. J.H. Rosenplänter founded Beiträge zur genauern
Kenntniss der ehstnischen Sprache , the journal for studies on Estonian language, literature and folklore. In Beiträge the German translation of Mythologia Fennica by Kristjan Jaak Peterson
in 1822.
In 1839 The Learned Estonian Society
was founded as the central organization for collecting and studying Estonian folklore. A leading figure in the society Friedrich Robert Faehlmann
published a number of Estonian legends and myths in German based on genuine Estonian folklore and on Ganander's Finnish mythology, "The Dawn and Dusk" (Koit ja Hämarik) being considered one of the most beautiful Estonian myths having popular origin. Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald
started collecting Estonian folklore in 1843 but ended up changing the tales considerably. The materials collected primarily from Virumaa
were reworked and published as The Old tales of the Estonian People in 1866
In 1842 The Society of the Estonian Literati was founded in Tallinn
. Alexander H. Neus' anthology Ehstnische Volkslieder (3 vols; 1850–52) is considered the first scholarly publication on Estonian folksongs. In total 1300 songs are given in Estonian language
and in German translation.
The president of The Society of the Estonian Literati, Pastor Dr. Jakob Hurt
, considered the "King of Estonian folklore" began collecting Estonian folklore in the 1870s. The total amount collected is approximately 12400 pages. The Old Harp (Vana Kannel) 2 volumes of folksongs were published in 1875–76. Two more volumes were added in 1938 and 1941. The Setus Songs (Setukeste laulud) in 3. volumes was published in 1904–1907. Inspired by Hurt's work, Matthias J. Eisen started folklore collection in the 1880s resulting a collection of 90.000 pages. Oskar Kallas
, Ph.D (1868–1946) studied at the University of Helsinki
, was the first folklore scholar of Estonian descent.
After the establishment of the Republic of Estonia, Walter Anderson
was appointed to the newly founded chair of folklore at the University of Tartu
. Andersons most significant students were Oskar Loorits
and August Annist :et:August Annist. Oskar Loorits became the director of Estonian Folklore Archive founded in 1927. Loorits' major field was folk religion
and mythology, a study on Estonian, Livonian and Russian folk beliefs. His most monumental work Grundzüge des estnischen Volksglaubens was published in 1949–1957 in Copenhagen
.
Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
Gesta Danorum (c. 1179). Saxo speaks of Estonian warriors who sang at night while waiting for a battle. Henry of Livonia in the beginning of the 13th. century describes Estonian sacrificial customs, gods and spirits. In 1578 Balthasar Russow
Balthasar Russow
Balthasar Russow was one of the most important Livonian and Estonian chroniclers.Russow was born in Reval . He was educated at an academy in Stettin in Pomerania...
describes the celebration of midsummer
Midsummer
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening. The exact dates vary between different...
, (jaanipäev) the St. John's Day. by Estonians. In 1644 Johann Gutslaff speaks of the veneration of holy springs and J.W. Boecler describes Estonian superstitious beliefs in 1685. Estonian folklore and beliefs including samples of folksongs appear in Topographische Nachrichten von Liv- und Estland by August W. Hupel in 1774–82. J.G von Herder publishes seven Estonian folksongs, translated into German in his Volkslieder (1778). republished as Stimmen der Völker in Liedern in 1807
In the beginning of the 19th century, during the Estophile Enlightenment Period(1750–1840) increased interest in Estonian folklore occurred among Baltic Germans. J.H. Rosenplänter founded Beiträge zur genauern
Kenntniss der ehstnischen Sprache , the journal for studies on Estonian language, literature and folklore. In Beiträge the German translation of Mythologia Fennica by Kristjan Jaak Peterson
Kristjan Jaak Peterson
Kristjan Jaak Peterson also known as Christian Jacob Petersohn, was an Estonian poet, commonly regarded as a herald of Estonian national literature and the founder of modern Estonian poetry. His literary career was cut short by the tuberculosis that killed him at the age of 21. His birthday on...
in 1822.
In 1839 The Learned Estonian Society
Learned Estonian Society
The Learned Estonian Society is Estonia's oldest scholarly organisation, and was formed at the University of Tartu in 1838. Its charter was to study Estonia's history and pre-history, its language, literature and folklore....
was founded as the central organization for collecting and studying Estonian folklore. A leading figure in the society Friedrich Robert Faehlmann
Friedrich Robert Faehlmann
Friedrich Robert Faehlmann was an Estonian philologist and an Estophile active in Livonia, Russian Empire...
published a number of Estonian legends and myths in German based on genuine Estonian folklore and on Ganander's Finnish mythology, "The Dawn and Dusk" (Koit ja Hämarik) being considered one of the most beautiful Estonian myths having popular origin. Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald
Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald
Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald was an Estonian writer, who is considered to be the father of the national literature for the country.-Life:Friedrich's parents were serfs at the Jõepere estate, Virumaa. His father worked as a granary keeper and his mother was a chambermaid...
started collecting Estonian folklore in 1843 but ended up changing the tales considerably. The materials collected primarily from Virumaa
Virumaa
Virumaa is a former independent county in Ancient Estonia. Now it is divided into Ida-Viru County or Eastern Vironia and Lääne-Viru County or Western Vironia...
were reworked and published as The Old tales of the Estonian People in 1866
In 1842 The Society of the Estonian Literati was founded in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
. Alexander H. Neus' anthology Ehstnische Volkslieder (3 vols; 1850–52) is considered the first scholarly publication on Estonian folksongs. In total 1300 songs are given in Estonian language
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
and in German translation.
The president of The Society of the Estonian Literati, Pastor Dr. Jakob Hurt
Jakob Hurt
Jakob Hurt was a notable Estonian folklorist, theologist, and linguist. With respect to the latter, he is perhaps best known for his dissertation on "pure" -ne stem nouns...
, considered the "King of Estonian folklore" began collecting Estonian folklore in the 1870s. The total amount collected is approximately 12400 pages. The Old Harp (Vana Kannel) 2 volumes of folksongs were published in 1875–76. Two more volumes were added in 1938 and 1941. The Setus Songs (Setukeste laulud) in 3. volumes was published in 1904–1907. Inspired by Hurt's work, Matthias J. Eisen started folklore collection in the 1880s resulting a collection of 90.000 pages. Oskar Kallas
Oskar Kallas
Oskar Kallas was an Estonian diplomat, linguist and folklorist. He was the husband of the Finnish writer Aino Kallas.-Education:...
, Ph.D (1868–1946) studied at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
, was the first folklore scholar of Estonian descent.
After the establishment of the Republic of Estonia, Walter Anderson
Walter Anderson (folklorist)
Walter Anderson was a German ethnologist .- Life :Anderson was born from a German family in Minsk, but soon moved to Kazan , on the edge of Siberia. His father, Nikolai Anderson, was professor in Finno-Ugric languages at the University of Kazan...
was appointed to the newly founded chair of folklore at the University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
. Andersons most significant students were Oskar Loorits
Oskar Loorits
Oskar Loorits was an Estonian folklorist.-Life:Loorits initially studied folklore at the University of Tartu and obtained his doctorate in 1926. Between 1927 and 1941, he was a lecturer in Estonian and Comparative Folklore...
and August Annist :et:August Annist. Oskar Loorits became the director of Estonian Folklore Archive founded in 1927. Loorits' major field was folk religion
Folk religion
Folk religion consists of ethnic or regional religious customs under the umbrella of an organized religion, but outside of official doctrine and practices...
and mythology, a study on Estonian, Livonian and Russian folk beliefs. His most monumental work Grundzüge des estnischen Volksglaubens was published in 1949–1957 in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.