The Song and Dance Festival Fire Passed through Võru County Twice

The "Iseoma" Song and Dance Festival fire journey reached Tallinn passing through Võru County, stopping on June 18th at Vastseliina Community Center, August Teppo's hayloft, near Parksepa Võru County Library, next to the memorial stone by Osula Basic School, and at Roosu Farm in Sulbi. In each place, there were exceptional performances by both adults and children. In Sulbi, the fire was even received by as many as 250 young eagle scouts and guides.

Võru County received the Song and Dance Festival fire multiple times - it even passed through Võru County twice. First, in front of Vastseliina Community Center, where the fire arrived with horses from Setomaa. Children from Vastseliina kindergarten, Vastseliina gymnasium's children's choir, and Vastseliina Community Center and Gymnasium dance groups performed near Helju Müürsepp's bench. The fire was received by Võru County Mayor Kalmer Puusepp from Setomaa County Governor Raul Kudre, who entrusted it to the Women's Defense League, eagle scouts, and guides. After joyful song and dance performances, the Song and Dance Festival Fire was taken to Haanja, near the Suur Munamägi observation tower, where the fire was handed over to Rõuge County for a couple of hours. From there, the fire passed through Rõuge County and Võru City until it returned to Võru County in the afternoon, at August Teppo's hayloft. The fire was returned to Võru County by Võru City Mayor Kalvi Kõva.

This August marks the 150th anniversary of August Teppo. In his honor, the music was also played by Võrumaa bagpipers at the hayloft along the way. The music continued near Parksepa Võru County Library, where the brass band Kungla welcomed the fire with brass sounds, and Võru County kindergarten children, Lõunapärlid, sang fun Võro-language songs and danced. In honor of the Book Year, Sipsik, known from Eno Raud's book, was also present.

During the fire journey, candles were lit at the graves and monuments of departed cultural figures across the entire county, honoring those who have contributed to our culture. Candles were also lit by local eagle scouts and guides near the memorial stone next to Osula Basic School for those who fought for our dear homeland.

The last stop in Võru County was the village of Sulbi, where Võru County eagle scouts and guides awaited, holding a camp at Sulbi’s outdoor stage. The Song and Dance Festival fire was passed from hand to hand by eagle scouts and guides as a relay to the bonfire site, where the homeowner of Roosu Farm, Aivar Rosenberg, received the fire and lit the bonfire. The villagers then spread the fire to surrounding farmsteads to bring joy and warmth to their homes.

Kati Soone's bagpipe music accompanied the fire in the Pühajõe region. The evening continued with a lively folk party, where the band Kannel played and the guests danced with local groups - Sulbi Women's Group Mari and Osula Senior Citizen Dance Group Ummamuudu. Thus, the Song and Dance Festival "Iseoma" fire set off on its journey amidst excitement and revelry. That same evening, Võru County passed the fire along with a bag of poppy seeds in Urvaste Church Park to Antsla County.

The official journey of the Song Festival fire from Tartu to Tallinn took place for the first time in 1969, marking 100 years since the first Song Festival. Since 1990, the official fire procession from Tartu to Tallinn is part of the tradition of general Song and Dance Festivals. The torch procession was organized by the Estonian Song and Dance Festival Foundation in collaboration with local authorities and the ESTO organizing committee. The journey through Võrumaa was led by Heino Pall and Kristi Vals. The approximately 2500 km long procession passed through all counties and reached Tallinn on July 2nd.