Cookies left for Santa or meatballs for a deceased grandfather during
hingede/aeg, the time of souls – it all depends on where you're from. Photo: Riina Kindlam
Estonians visit and light candles on the graves of loved ones on
2. november,
hingede/päev (All Souls Day), as do many Europeans of various faiths. However, they don't take food to graveyards, as do people in Mexico for
Dia de Muerto, the Day of the Dead; instead a table was set at home for the visiting souls of
esi/vanemad (ancestors).
For Estonians,
hingede/aeg, the period of souls, is long – all of November (also known as
koolja/kuu, month of the dead and
hinge/kuu, souls' month) and even up to
jõulud (Christmas). And as Ahto Kaasik, who studies folk traditions and sacred places has said – "Souls don't follow a calender, they come when the weather is quiet, often foggy and mild". During this extended period, families would set a table for the deceased in the house or the
saun every
nelja/päev (Thursday) during the fall. Thursdays were considered lucky: good for sowing, making offerings, religious ceremonies, predictions and even witchcraft.
On this particular night, the first Sunday in November, a little girl decided it was the right time to light a candle in the window and invite her Papa home. We were having
liha/pallid (meatballs), so some were left out for him all night as well.
Riina Kindlam, Tallinn
