Estonian Victory Day (Võidupüha) and St John's Day (Jaanipäev)
Estonian Victory Day (Võidupüha) and St John's Day (Jaanipäev) celebration Estonian Cultural Garden June 26, 2022
The Estonian Cultural Garden was dedicated June 19, 1966. Each year, the Estonian community and friends gather to celebrate Estonian Victory Day (Võidupüha) and St John's Day (Jaanipäev).
Toomas Tubalkain served as MC.
Toomas Tubalkain
Pastor Pirn led a prayer in Estonian and then English.
Pastor Pirn
Toomas gave remarks about the current situation in Ukraine and then Judge Ralph Perk Jr., president of the American Nationalities Movement, gave his remarks about freedom
Judge Ralph Perk Jr.
Bill Cook entertained with a few clarinet songs.
Bill Cook
Toomas read a poem he wrote and then the group gathered in front of the Estonian monument where they sang the Estonian National Anthem.
Singing the Estonian National Anthem
Toomas explained their monument which commemorates 'Kalevipoeg' or as Toomas likes to call it, the Estonian Creation Myth.
Toomas Tubalkain explains the Estonian monument
As he said, "The story of our Creation Myth is relevant today, as it has been for millennia. Kalev and Estonia suffered for centuries under foreign occupation, but the culture of the Estonian people never faltered and proved to be their salvation".
Click the white arrow below to watch a video of the ceremony in the Estonian Cultural Garden
Enjoy these other images from Victory Day in the Estonian Cultural Garden in Cleveland.
Group photo by the monument
Lithuanian Honorary Consul Ingrida Bublys with Toomas Tubalkain and Erika Puussaar
Lia Staaf shows the Staaf Family brick
Estonian Garden crowd
Toomas Tubalkain and Erika Puussaar
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