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EESTI ELU reedel, 28. mail 2021 — Friday, May 28, 2021
Nr. 21
Zen and the art of gardening
Still from the 1980 Tall innfilm animation ‘Suur Tõll’.
The significance of Suur Tõll (“Tõll the Great”) in Estonian mythology Vincent Teetsov At the beginning of the 1980 animation Suur Tõll, viewers are given some advance warn ing of the brutal violence depicted ahead: “Eesti vägilasmuistendi ainetel” (“Based on the Estonian war legend”). That puts it mildly really, for what is a gritty and forthright portrayal of warfare in an old fable. Who knows how many Estonian kids have tossed and turned in bed after watching it, with nightmares of ghoul ish foot soldiers and disso nant, cavernous singing! As the story goes, Suur Tõll is a humble giant who lives with his comparably large and strong wife Piret. Tõll is both a farmer and the King of his island, Saaremaa. This existence suits him well, except for when his archenemy, Vanapagan (literally “Old Devil”) makes a nuisance in Tõll’s fields. When word comes to him of approaching invaders, he fetches some cabbage to make soup for himself and the local soldiers before they go to battle. Tõll stomps in, trouncing enemy forces with two big wheels he takes from a cart. While away fighting, Vana pagan sneaks over to attack Piret and demolish their home. When Tõll returns and discovers Piret’s corpse, he chases around Vanapagan to claim his revenge. His fury mounts to its highest point when, on top of losing Piret, Saaremaa is invaded once more. Tõll returns to fight another army, but this time, he encounters a giant like him, who cuts his head off in a moment of distraction. Tõll and the soldiers of Saaremaa do finally defeat the invaders, but Tõll takes his head and hides away, only to return if the islanders need his help. This animation was a production of Joonisfilm, originally founded in 1971 by Rein Raamat as part of the famous Tallinnfilm studio that created so many of Estonia’s films from the 20th century. Raamat has directed 14 cartoons, including Rüblik (1975), about a boy who is transformed into a pig when he aggravates a
groundskeeper, by not walking on the sidewalk on the way to and from school. Raamat’s artistic hand is also in docu mentaries and films, including the 1969 cult classic Viimne reliikvia (“The Last Relic”). From a cinematic standpoint, some of these animations’ memorable qualities include their music and sound design, with creepy howling and bellowing from choral voices. There’s also the way faces of characters are exaggerated in animation, like when characters are comically fumbling through manual tasks. The animation of Suur Tõll puts an absurdist angle on the folk tale, to the point where violence almost loses impact, like in comic books. The animation’s artistic style, created by Jüri Arrak, of Suur Tõll as a wavy-headed being with an unnerving stare, is seared into the larger Esto nian memory. Outside of the animation, Suur Tõll epitomizes Esto nianness with his fondness for cabbage, beer, and blistering hot rocks for his sauna. His national image was made physical by Tauno Kangro’s statue of Tõll and Piret carrying a boat full of fish, situated by the marina in Kuressaare. In the northwest Saaremaa town of Ninase, there are two windmills, rebuilt in the late 1970s, that are meant to pay tribute to Tõll and Piret. Local newlyweds take part in a tradition of writing their date of marriage and names onto rocks and bringing them to the windmills for good luck. As an Estonian folk tale, Kalevipoeg (“Kalev’s Son”) gets more attention, probably because it’s more oriented to all of Estonia rather than just one region. Its notoriety is also reinforced by the popularity of the Finnish Kalevala, that has similarities to Kalevipoeg and has become known outside of the region. Tõll and Kalevipoeg are similar in that they both meet their final end through a loss of some appendage. That is the ultimate devastating blow for any Estonian giant. Kalevipoeg
A shameless steal from Robert Pirsig. The philosopher used the concept of motorcycle maintenance to make in quiries into our values system. Quite an interesting read. The slimster, way back when, was deeply into Zen, a branch of Buddhism. For one of the key concepts of that religion – if you can call it that, it is more a belief system – is the prin ciple that all life is suffering. A good Buddhist respects nature and every single living creature, making sure, even, to not step on any nasty bugs. For as long as the slender one recalls, every living creature has been treated with the understanding that they too have a right to life. Excepting mosquitoes and horseflies, of course. Walking in the park, caterpillars get scooped up from the paved path and placed on a leaf. After a rainfall worms receive similar treatment. Hey, Rockin’ Robin’s gotta eat, after all. This is not Buddhist so much as being Estonian: we even apologize to the tree for cutting it down, for the firewood necessary in winter. But the gracile guy digresses. When decades ago weed meant an escape, now, following Pirsig’s musings weeding provides a different kind of avoi dance. Mindless work in the garden, all pointless, really, just like shaving. Have to do it tomorrow, best in two days, all over again. Yet, weeding is calming, surprisingly. Sets the mind into another gear, called neutral. Sitting, or kneeling, among the bugs, plucking away is Zen. And interestingly songs
come to mind, are even softly hummed. Ohm. Ohm. As is often the case following solitary but necessary pursuits. Of course, the mottled mind went first to the smokeable stuff. Hey – it has been deemed essential. A number (pardon the pun) of songs glorify, or at least exalt the stuff. Even a band, The Doobie Brothers, recognized the need to chill and avoid reality through name choice. Cab Calloway may have been the first to laud weed with “Reefer Man”. And Neil Young’s classic “Roll Another Number (for the Road)” makes one almost yearn for days of yore. Almost. For now the perfect garden is the goal. With John Denver’s “Garden Song” firmly in mind whilst dealing with the garlic mustard, crabgrass and wood sorrel that is choking the lawn. Depeche Mode sang about “My Secret Garden”, although Mister Yellow Thumb Slim thinks his escape space is hardly hidden, for sweetums gives orders daily to tend to it. No place to hide. Strangely, one does not mind. Depeche Mode, by the way, must have inspired the selection of name for a New Age music group, called Secret Garden. Curiously, their debut recording is in the slender fella’s rather fat collection. Quite relaxing, actually. Don’t mock the musical category – it can be aurally therapeutic. And of course, Estonians, tied to Mother Nature as we are, have a few good, memorable songs to do with the garden. One such classic number (there
loses his feet; for Tõll it’s his head. They are both guardians of their lands. Suur Tõll saves mariners at sea and defends Saaremaa. Kalevipoeg fought off villains by jettisoning rocks and swinging planks at them. Paul Bunyan is something of a North American equivalent, with his legendary lumberjack feats. Consider also, in the modern story context, how the main character of Jon Favreau’s Star
Wars miniseries The Manda lorian, has become so popular. People are obsessed with stories of guardians and warriors with good hearts. People appreciate good overcoming evil. Deep down, the legend of Suur Tõll is a familiar human dream. A wish that, when the need arises, we can call out for a hero to come in and help us. Even if it’s locked away in a myth or legend.
he goes again…) is the oft-mentioned “Meil aia äärne tänavas”, a challenge to translate. Our garden-side on the street is clumsy, but that’s what the poet Lydia Koidula intended when she composed this nostalgic look into lost youth. Sung by a good male chorus, with a strong first tenor section, obeying all the forte fortissimos and piano pianissimos, this is an incre dible song. Then there is the lovely “Pea õitsvad roosid” (The roses shall soon bloom), with a similar loss of youth expressed in the chorus, of how youth is beautiful and will never be regained. The children’s roundelay “Kes aias” (who is in the garden?) certainly qualifies, most adults remember playing that game as if it took place yesterday. And finally, “Vaikne, kena kohakene”, the quiet fine place that is the singer’s place of birth. The farm will never be forgotten, especially the obligatory birch in the front yard and beside it the rowanwood or mountain ash, providing a bounty of berries in the fall. Ah, childhood memories, they do come back often these days. Hence the Zen state, augmented with quiet music, makes weeding a breeze. Age has something to do with it, sur mises the slimster. However, one gets the much-desired need of distance from the problems of the world. The suggestion of gardening should not be of concern. No “essential” weed required. Just crank up the oldies. OTEPÄÄ SLIM
ESTONIAN FOUNDATION OF CANADA THANKS…. … ANDREA HERRMANN as she leaves her role as EFC Office and Marketing Manager for her next challenge. Andrea – we wish you well and we will miss you. Congratulations!
Employment Opportunity The Estonian Foundation of Canada seeks an OFFICE MANAGER who will lead marketing, communications and community/donor relations for this national charity. The successful candidate will manage the Foundation’s office and one part time employee. The Manager will oversee and lead the funding applications program (as directed by the Board), create and manage fundraising and community awareness campaigns, and ideally plan and write content for the EFC website, social media platforms and community news outlets, and assume other duties. The applicant must have excellent project management skills, good writing and communication skills, as well as a basic understanding of Estonian. Familiarity with the Estonian community in Canada would be an asset. This position can provide flexible hours and could evolve in future. We are interested in hearing from you if you have most of these skills or willing to learn. Compensation commensurate with experience. Please apply with resume by June 18, 2021 to president@estonianfoundation.ca. Estonian Foundation of Canada is a registered charity that supports Estonian cultural and heritage initiatives across Canada.
