Echoes of the Celebration: The Day the Devil Descended from the Heavens

It was an awe-inspiring spectacle, a display of unity and celebration that only comes once every few years - the great Estonian song and dance festival. Yet, this year, an unexpected and somewhat harrowing occurrence added an entirely new layer to the festivities. A moment when nature asserted its presence in the most sudden and startling way, providing an experience that many of the festival-goers may find hard to forget.

A concerned spectator, who also served as a volunteer at the festival, shares a heartfelt plea: "Dear parents, hug your children and reassure them that they are safe and protected, especially if they may fear the rain, strong winds or thunderstorms more than before!"

The story unfolded on a Sunday when the youthful choir groups were slowly stepping down the stairs of the grandstand. The sky was cloudy, showing occasional patches of darkness. Some showers had been, but no serious warnings had arrived from either the city or the sea. Suddenly, a lightning bolt struck nearby, and almost simultaneously, the air was ripped apart by a deafening roar of thunder. Fear instantly gripped the young singers. Their instincts triggered an immediate response: screams, tears, a desperate grasp for each other, and a rush to seek shelter. Despite the understanding that the large trees nearby may not offer much protection against lightning, being out in the open seemed absurd.

The occurrence sparked a variety of interpretations across social media and online news outlets. Some saw it as a warning sign from the heavens for the government's unfair decisions; others believed it was a shamanistic consequence because, for almost a week, the song "Sata, sata, saokõnõ" by Mari Kalkun, a rain-calling song, had been echoing around the festival ground. Others still saw it as a blessing from the Creator to the drought-stricken land of Estonia, or simply a natural event.

The spectator's main concern, however, was the psychological impact of this sudden shock, especially on the young children present. They wrote, "In case your children keep talking about the thunder and rain, let them speak - this is how the body heals from trauma, how the mind cleanses from fear."

While the panic remained largely unreported in the official media, likely to prevent additional anxiety, it was essential for parents and guardians to acknowledge and help their children cope with any lingering trauma. The spectator advised, "If you notice in your children more fearful emotions than before during the next heavy rainfall or thunderstorm, take your child into your arms and assure them that they are safe and protected."

Interestingly, during the parade, figures dressed as devils were part of the procession, adding a playful yet eerie foreshadowing to the sudden climatic event. The festival thus left an unforgettable imprint, a vivid mixture of joy, unity, fear, and surprise, an experience that will be remembered and retold for years to come.