ST. THOMAS' DAY

On December 21st, according to the Estonian folk calendar, St. Thomas' Day is celebrated, marking the transition in nature towards lengthening and brightening days. This year, the people of Pärnu welcome brighter times by collecting all the bad thoughts and wishes of the past year to be burned in a cleansing fire and cast into good luck tin.

In the summer capital, St. Thomas' Day has been celebrated with various performances, at the end of which Pärnu's Mayor Romek Kosenkranius announces the Christmas peace. The authors of this year's piece are Andres Tölp, Kardo Ojassalu, and Ott Artel. The St. Thomas' Day stage piece is based on the story of the ancient Greek god of fire and blacksmithing, Hephaestus.

 

Citizens also have the opportunity to contribute to the performance by sharing their bad thoughts they wish to leave in the past. Barrels for bad thoughts are placed on the first floor of Port Artur 2. Residents can also send their worries and failures online here: https://tinyurl.com/mpjyxj8h

"Once the filth is collected into anti-Pandora's boxes, the boxes are brought to Vallikäär, where the god Hephaestus works behind his forge. He is assisted by his loyal helpers, the Cyclopes. Under Hephaestus' guidance, this filth is melted in a divine fire and watched over by the Cyclopes to be turned back into fortune for the people."

The performance starts at Vallikäär on December 21st at 6:00 PM and lasts 30 minutes.

Thanks to our partners! City of Pärnu, Pärnu Postimees, Dance Group Tuurit-Tuurit, and Port Artur