"The Singing Revolution"

Visiting Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds was a different, unique experience.  Here, as one stood quietly, looking out over the expansive grassy area, a sense of sincere respect for Estonia and the Estonian people was evoked.  In their traditional way the Estonian people gathered at this place defying 48 years of oppression and expressed what they believed, felt and expected.  En masse, they rallied the world's attention and altered the path of their nation. 

The Song Festival Grounds at Tallinn, Estonia was, in 1988, the gathering place for nearly 300,000 Estonians.  For six consecutive days and nights they sang patriotic and folk songs and waved Estonian flags, all prohibited by the Soviet authorities who watched but couldn't stop the peacefully defiant "choir".  This unscripted gathering began The Singing Revolution which led to the separation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the oppressive Soviet sphere without a shot being fired.  They became independent Baltic nations by 1991.

Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds was built for the events and gatherings of Estonians
 whose culture developed around music and singing as a means of expression.  Here, the stage can
hold 15,000 singers and the grounds have held 300,000 participants.  The statue looking-on is that of
Gustav Ernesaks who composed Mu Isamaa On Minu Arm (My Fatherland Is My Love),
the Estonians' unofficial anthem during much of the oppressive Soviet occupation.

The Song Festival Grounds, Sept. 11, 1988, when 300,000 Estonians sang in protest for six days and nights.
                                                                                                                                          (Photo Credit; Estonian World)

The Singing Revolution continued.  In August of 1989, one year on, nearly two million people formed a human chain stretching over 400 miles through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.  The young and old, urban and rural from the three Baltic states linked arms and sang in a demonstration of unity in their quest for freedom.  Their peaceful mass defiance captured and held the world's attention bringing international pressure on Russia.

      Today they are free, independent nations.