Siklódi Csilla szerk.: Tradicionális sportok, népi játékok (A Sportmúzeum Kincsei 2. Budapest, 1996)

Tradicionális sportok, népi játékok az észteknél (Marge Vaerv, Kalle Voolaid, Kaie Jeeser, Anu Sillastu)

the Estonian National Museum's photo collection. In 1936 A. Kalamees wrote a book, which for the first time described the Estonian folk games on a large scale. Folk music researcher Herbert Tampere studied games with songs. During the Soviet period Endel Is op, lecturer in Tallinn Pedagogical Institute, studied the games (especially sport games). He is the author for several books about games. For example: "Algklasside liikumismangude raudvara" ("Basic works for kinetic games in first forms"), "Liikumismangud lastele" ("Kinetic games"), "Mangude suurraamat" ("Big book of games"). Nowadays research work about folk games is carried out first of all in the Estonian Literature Museum. Special working group for this research has been formed there. Thanks to this collections of the museum have widened and first scientific works are being finished. Main persons who play games have always been children. Adults took time for playing during holidays and parties when larger company gathered (calender holidays, wedding parties, finishing of bees, etc.). On folk calendar holidays (Christmas, Shrove Tuesday, Easter) working was often prohibited, therefore it was usually time for people's gatherings and merrymaking, at the same time being a short "breathing space" before the next major working period was started (e.g. Midsummer Day before haymaking and harvesting, St. Michael's Day - end of fieldwork). It has been a long-time tradition in Estonia to slaughter a domestic animal on this occasion and have plenty to eat and drink because on weekdays meals were rather meagre. Beer was a compulsory item on the menu and stronger drinks were also consumed. This favoured joy for playing and testing the strengh. Now follow calendar holidays connected with (certain) games. Christmas - the greatest holidays among Estonians. Where celebrated already during pre-christian period. Christmas time lasted two weeks from Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) till Epiphany (Jan. 6). Christmas began with bringing straw inside. This is why in some regions straw is called Christmas. The tradition by itself favours playing. During Christmas working was avoided, even food was prepared before for the whole period, so Christmas was time for resting, visiting relatives and friends, eating and merrymaking. Straw was suitable for trial of strength (gypsy wrestling, pulling a stick crosswise), several skill games were played (exam of a man doing his corvee, catching ruff, shoemaker's game) and fortunes were foretold. During Nuudipaev (Day of knout) (Jan. 7) holidays were driven away, i.e. the last Christmas beer was drunken and holiday food was eaten. Nuudipaev for the Estonians is connected with straw knout, which young men took with them when they went from family to family and used for driving the holidays away. This had fertility-magical background.