Vilde E.

(Eduard Vilde, 1865-1933)

Prolific writer (33 volumes of novels, stories, plays, travelogues and humorous pieces), considered the first modern European in Estonia, and acclaimed as one of its greatest writers. See Piimamehe. A lifelong moderate socialist, Wilde spent three weeks on Ellis Island in 1911 while the Americans sniffed his credentials. There is a sculpture of him sitting next to his namealike Oscar Wilde outside the former Wilde printing house, now pub, in Vallikraavi (moat, counterscarp) in Tartu. See also Mahtra.

Vilisuu (Vilisuu)

Lit. Whistle-mouth. Differing explanations: 1) Rarely-used bogey-man type threat for children: Ära mine õue, vilisuu tuleb! (Don’t go out, Vilisuu will get you!). Folklore character related to other Estonian wind spirits, such as Marumemm (storm-crone), Tuuleisa (wind-dad) or Tuuleema (wind-mother), and perhaps also to Tuuslar; or, for some, 2) synonym of Külmataat, taat meaning old man or greybeard, etc., a sort of Slavic-culture Santa Claus known by the name Дед [Дедушка] Мороз (Ded [Dedushka] Moroz), or ‘Old Man Frost’ (but see Pakase). Renamed (1979-1995) as Tehumardi during the Soviet occupation. Part of a magico-mythological group. See Virbi.

Viljandi (Viljandi)

Town in southern Estonia first mentioned in 1283, although hill-fort mentioned by al-Idrisi in 1154. Formerly known as Fellinn, or Velyad or Velnevik. Major fortification of the Hanseatic Livonian Order, today home to the annual July Viljandi Folk Music Festival. Local settlements date back to 5^th millennium BCE. Nearby Võrtsjärv (lake) is the largest natural eel breeding location in Europe. See Tallinn-Viljandi.