Jaanipäev a'la Bangladesh
Jaanipäev - St. John's Day or Estonian Midsummer - is The Most Awaited and Celebrated occasion in Estonia (together with Christmas). The celebrations for the festival start on the evening of 23rd of June when big bonfires are lit all over the country. Families, friends, relatives and huge crowds at different places gather together, enjoy the music programs, dancing in the open air, swinging on big traditional wooden wings, singing traditional songs, barbequing, making sauna and just having fun. This is considered the shortest night of the year and many legends are related to that. 23rd is also Estonian Victory Day (day when we won a battle in 1919 when fighting for our independence with Russians). Therefor bonfires are also symbolising the light of freedom. To be honest, nowadays very few young people really know where Jaanipäev comes from or how it links with Victory Day, the most important is that this is a festival to enjoy and celebrate together with friends as much as possible. Obviously, nobody wants to miss that and moreover, nobody sleeps at that night.
Jaanipäev a'la Bangladesh happened in Nordic Club in Dhaka in presence of Anti, Karina, me and Rajon. Anti and Karina are two other Estonians who moved to Bangladesh about a month ago to work here. (Juhuu!!! Some Estonian language around "ja ikkagi omad"!) Nordic Club itself is one of the traditional country clubs present in Dhaka. There are several other clubs like this here - e.g British, Dutch, German, American, International etc Clubs. Country clubs are meant for its members to spend their time. There are normally gym, pool, library, internet facilities, restaurant and bar. Quite often parties are arranged in clubs. Clubs are more or less the only places in Dhaka where it is officially allowed to drink and where people can sunbathe and swim in the pool having only bikini or swimming costume on. For many expatriates the clubs are the most frequently visited places to have dinner or just to chill out, because it's very western and totally opposite to general local environment. Club members can be only the citizens of the country to which the club belongs to and membership fees are not too cheap. Nordic Club members can be Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Finnish, but well, Estonians too if to try really hard :) Every member can bring guests when coming to the club, so that's how I have been to these places though I'm not a member of any of them.
I have been to several clubs, but I do find the Nordic club the most homy. They even have sauna on the roof! And many attractions for children. And last night for St. John's Day there was even a bonfire lit in the children's pool! But unfortunately we missed it, cos it was burning just for 1 hour and we were late. Anyway, the evening itself was nothing special - just chit-chatting over a glass of beer and wine and some snacks by the pool and enjoying ourselves. But it was really nice, especially as it was for Midsummer celebration :) !
