Vartiolampi... A Karelian village with its own history and traditions was standing there just a hundred years ago. Alas, it was burnt down during the WWII and never revived. The abandoned gardens and fields turned into beautiful pasture with lavish vegetation providing hay in summer for the former inhabitants.
The gardens and hayfields were grassed, and Vartiolampi turned into a picturesque meadow with generous plants. Only former inhabitants came there to make hay…
The new life started with the foundation of the Paanajarvi National Park. The participants of children’s ecology camps became the new «inhabitants» of the former village. In 2008 the Karelian house appeared in the stow, and the museum of Karelian culture was opened. If there are inhabitants, then they should have traditions. So, the Karelian festival became such a tradition.
The third year in a row on the 10th of August in Vartiolampi people have sung beautiful Karelian songs, peals of laughter have been heard, and sublime Kivakka has watched people dancing in a round. The amateur-talent group of the Soflorog culture centre – female ensemble «Satenkari» and children’s ensemble «Lintuset» – helps to organize the festival.
Every year they make us happy with their shows.
And the master of ceremonies, Natalya Borodkina, is absolutely amazing! The Soflorog artists’ imagination is measureless. This year they told us about Finno-Ugric traditions and customs. We learned how to ask the Sun not to leave our village in Karelian. And the Sun heard our appeal – it was a very pleasant warm day.
Karelian dances took turns with games: the visitors could become a fishing net and a nimble fish; married couples competed in agility. The men competed for the title of the strongest one; the women tested their agility and dexterity.
Semolina and buckwheat porridge lovers drew over the rope to prove the advantage of their favourite porridge. Both types of porridge turned out to be equally tasty!
The best, the most dexterous and the strongest got their deserved prizes. There was a surprise for the visitors – the award for fidelity: the third year in a row three families from Moscow and Saint Petersburg have come here in August to join the festival. That proves that the festival is highly valued.
Of course, there were snacks and drinks. At our festival the guests could try traditional Karelian pastry and flavourous tea. Everyone could try to cook pancakes on an open fire.
At our festival there are not only different types of entertainment; visitors can also try hand in different handicrafts. Can you mow, comb wool or spin? No? Visit our festival, and we teach you how to do it! Everyone go back home with Berehynia – a hand-made doll.
There was also a gift market: there the guests could buy small hand-made rugs, knitted socks, caps, pot holders, «garret toys» with the smell of cinnamon, patchwork mosaics and many more.
People sang songs and danced till the evening and began to arrange their own competitions: round dance with chastushka singing, men’s and women’s chorus.
When it was time to farewell, people thanked each other and promised to come back here again. The festival was very bright and friendly.
We would like to thank everyone who helped to organize and hold this festival: Natalya Borodkina, Elena Ligotskaya, Raisa Kundozyorova, Zinaida Ustyugova, children’s ensemble «Lintuset», Ekaterina Kuranova (our renowned accompanist), Alla Arkhipova (inspirator and main assistant), Elena Sergeeva and the park staff.
We should not forget about our traditions, we should remember about our history and culture: that is why we look forward to see our guests here again next year, on the 10th of August!
Welcome!