Black Soldier – Patron Saint: St Maurice and the Livonian Merchants

This article discusses the cult and visual representation of St Maurice in late medieval Livonia (i.e. present day Estonia and Latvia), set in the broader context of the Baltic Sea region. The main, but not the only, promoters of his cult were the confraternities of the Black Heads – associations of journeyman merchants, existing in the three largest Livonian Hanse towns from the early fifteenth century onwards. The aim of the article is to offer explanations about why these associations chose warrior saints as their identity markers and why St Maurice figured so prominently among them

VICARIUS, CANONICUS ET EPISCOPUS : THREE LATE MEDIEVAL GRAVE SLABS FROM TARTU AND TALLINN

The article discusses three late medieval grave slabs in Estonia, which are decorated with full fgures and represent ecclesiastics of diferent ranks. By examining their visual appearance, including the inscriptions and coats of arms, some of the general trends in the production and decoration of local tombstones can be outlined and a contribution made to the discussion of the role of such monuments in the late medieval culture of commemoration. One of the slabs, actually a fragment, came to light during the archaeological excavations of the Tartu Cathedral in 2008. Its inscription added a completely new name to the list of clerics known from medieval Tartu. The monument belonged to the vicar Stephanus de Velde, who died in 1428 or 1438. The others two grave slabs are located in the Cathedral of Tallinn. One of them, belonging to an unidentifed bishop, can be dated to the frst third of the 16  century. The other marks the grave of Georgius (Jurgen) Bardin, a canon in the Tallinn and Saare- Lääne (Ösel-Wiek) dioceses, who died in May 1525. An important function of these monuments was to be a witness to status. The identity of the deceased was perpetuated through the proper attire and symbols, but also through the family coat of arms and the name and occupation stated in the inscription. The large and elaborately decorated grave slabs were prestigious objects, which were meant not only to mark the tomb but also to visually commemorate the deceased, to invite the viewers to contemplate on death, salvation and resurrec- tion, and to evoke intercessory prayers

Michel Sittow's Maternal Grandfather and His Identification in Medieval Sources

In his benchmarking article of 1940 on Michel Sittow, historian Paul Johansen not only discussed the identity of the famous painter, but also surveyed his immediate family and kin, including Michel's maternal grandfather Olef Molner, who had probably arrived to Tallinn from Finland. The authors of this article will take a fresh look at Finnish and Tallinn late medieval sources in order to conduct an in-depth study of Olef Molner's life and activities and assess if Johansen's arguments were solid. The article will also shed new light on how close the socio-economic connections between Finland and Tallinn were in the Middle Ages and how the newcomers became part of various transgenerational networks.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Fair Trade and social responsibility – whose duty? Estonian consumers’ attitudes and beliefs

ArticleThis article investigates how the Estonian consumers endorse the idea of Fair Trade (FT) and understand the principles of social responsibility. The article is based on a study on Fair Trade and social responsibility conducted in 2014. The study examined the consumers’ attitudes and beliefs associated with FT and local Estonian agricultural production. The article aims to compare if there are any difference in the beliefs and attitudes among the Estonian consumers towards supporting local farmers and producers versus supporting the FT ideas which benefit the farmers and producers from the Global South. The authors fully recognise that there is no competition among these two groups per se, but the perception exists in the minds of the consumers. The respondents of the nation-wide representative sample (n = 1,007) evaluated the responsibility of different economic agents such as public sector, retailers, suppliers, producers, and consumers. Most of the respondents regarded the principle of social responsibility as giving the priority to local Estonian agricultural production. The Estonian consumers tend to be sceptical about the benefits of FT or the workers and farmers from the developing countries. The awareness and knowledge about FT ideas is not high

Rahvarõivakool Chicagos. Veebi vahendusel / National clothing course in Chicago, online

Between January 2021 and May 2023, the Estonian Cultural Society in Chicago collaborated with the NGO Rahvarõivas and provided a national clothing course for Estonians in the USA. The idea came from the Estonians in Chicago, building on NGO Rahvarõivas’ experience in providing national clothing schools since 2009. To unite the domestic and expatriate Estonian communities in understanding the intricate tradition of Estonian folk costumes, this comprehensive course spanned both theoretical and practical elements. The online format allowed participants from multiple U.S. states to join. This initiative attracted 12 people between the ages 13 to 76. Participants came from the states of Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Washington, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. At the final presentation, 12 exquisitely crafted ensembles representing 10 Estonian parishes were showcased. While most participants completed one ensemble, some accomplished two or even three sets of garments. The course encompassed 360 academic hours of classroom work, plus independent work. The curriculum was based on the supplementary education program established in Estonia in 2018. The course objectives were to ensure that both homeland and expatriate Estonian communities have the same understanding of Estonian folk clothing traditions. The curriculum included theoretical lectures from April to June to prepare participants for the practical phase beginning in September. The organisers and the teachers reviewed the entire curriculum together. Based on the technologies, they tried to anticipate possible obstacles and think of solutions ahead of time. Individual work plans were created, and materials were assembled. The participants who visited Estonia in the summer of 2021 had the opportunity to visit the museums with the teachers and were able to study the historical examples in their sets and determine the correct colors. The challenge of weaving patterned belts and skirt fabrics was addressed with innovative teaching methods. Video demonstrations, visual aids, verbal explanations, technique demonstrations, and drawn stitching patterns were employed to facilitate learning. The fact that the United States has a different type of loom made weaving the fabric difficult. The course’s most intricate aspect was understanding the weaving’s backside and its loose threads. The linen fabric and other materials were bought from Estonia, examples were made and sent to the USA. More work than usual was done with the preparation of work instructions and creating the outlines.  The last stitches, fitting and dressing properly sessions were already done all together in Chicago this June. This culminated in a presentation of the completed ensembles just a week before Midsummer’s Eve, documented through photographs and videos. Both students and teachers celebrated the joy of completing the garments. The teachers gained great and necessary experience. The students plan to continue the project by introducing the finished garments to other Estonian communities in North America, thereby further promoting Estonian culture and traditions. This endeavour demonstrates the significance of adapting traditional practices to the challenges. The emotional and educational impact of this project is evident in the pride and emotions of the graduates, who crafted lasting memories and now plan to extend this legacy by sharing their knowledge and completed sets with other Estonian communities in the United States. The project embodies the enduring strength and unity of the Estonian culture and heritage within and beyond its borders