This year’s “Let’s Do It!” collective community work day is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, and invites participants to use their home-grown parish colours when decorating and to discover the tastes of their local region. On Thursday 15 March, registration will open on the website www.teemeara.ee for the national event happening on 5 May.
“Throughout time, a perception of one’s home area has always been important for the people of Estonia. The communal work day is a good opportunity to bring local history to the present day and to rediscover the parish colours of your home during Estonia’s centenary year,” Margus Kasterpalu, Head of Estonia 100 Major Events said. “All objects, that need some refreshing could be painted in the local parish colours. A new festive appearance for Estonia’s 100th centenary can for instance be given to bus shelters, gardens, benches, shed doors, flower boxes and even kitchen cabinets,” Kasterpalu added.
The recently released book “The Colours of Estonia’s Parishes. The colours of home for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia” introduces Estonian parochial (i.e. parish) colours and gives ideas on how to bring these colours to your home region on the community work day on 5 May. The book was compiled for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia and the “Let’s Do It!” communal work day.
“The book contains the colours and patterns of skirts from various parts of Estonia, one representative skirt from each parish,” Estonian National Museum curator and author of the book Reet Piiri said. According to the author, every parish is characterised by its own colour gamut, inspired by local flora, but also by the taste and colour preferences of the local people. The book is so popular that an additional printing has already been ordered. “Very rarely does a book come on the market that is at once this interesting, practical, and easy to follow,” the head of Rahva Raamat Publishing Rain Siemer added. The book is available at Rahva Raamat and Apollo book stores, as well as Bauhof, Prisma, Selver stores all over Estonia
This year’s “Let’s Do It!” communal work day has two main themes. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, a sense of community will be created and parish colours will be brought home. Regional food traditions will be re-discovered during the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.
“During this centenary year, we will bring together communal work with the familiar colours and patterns of peoples’ home regions and interesting flavours,” Tarmo Tüür, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Nature Foundation and head of the “Let’s Do It” community work day. “Brush strokes inspired by the colours of Estonian parishes could liven up our daily life and environment this spring, both in rural areas and in urban centres. Similarly, new and forgotten flavours could help to better understand cultural diversity.”
Registration to take part in the “Let’s Do It!” communal work day begins on 15 March. Community work groups can be registered at www.teemeara.ee.
The year 2018 marks 100 years since the founding of the Republic of Estonia. More information about events can be found at www.EV100.ee.