Friendship trading between the Finnish and the Estonians has been going on for more than seven hundred years. Documents from the Middle Ages prove how the developments of trading lead to the evolving of contacts between individuals and families, the deepening of which in turn increased friendship and mutual trust. The first documented data date back to the 1300s, when the peasants from Viiburi are known to have visited Tallinn as well as the small ports in Virumaa. The documents confirm Finnish peasants sailing to Mahu and Toolse in the years 1431 and 1437. This is the data written down by chroniclers, but trading probably started much earlier.
People from small Finnish islands attended mainly to fishing and sealing, because the sandy and stony earth was not suitable for agriculture. Estonians grew grain and cattle. Baltic herring (i.e. salted herring) made it to the Estonian table with the help of friends; grain, meat and later potatoes on the other hand to the table of the island inhabitants. In addition, wool and handicraft as well as other necessities were exchanged.
Visits were made from land to the islands and vice versa. The overseas trips offered a cultural benefit next to the economic one. After the goods were exchanged and the fair ended, a port hosted a party, which was called the holidays of the island men. Supposedly, it was such an important day that even the grass stopped growing. Friendship trading meant exchanging goods for goods, no money was used. The fish brought in spring were paid for in the autumn.
Fishermen and Finnish from the islands used the coastal taverns as accommodation on their trading trips. The Kalvi manor constructed a large building in Mahu Kaupsaar; the fire under its mantle chimney offered a nice place to drink coffee and talk, the bunks beside the walls a place to sleep. Men from the islands were also served by the Toolse (destroyed by now), Kajaka (still operating in Kunda), Vergi, Pihlaspea, Altja, Oja and other taverns.
The Finnish islands that belonged to Finland up to the Winter War (1940) and from where for centuries people came to Estonia for friendship trading are: Haabsaar (Haapasaari), Suursaar (Suursaari, Hogland), Tütarsaar (Tytärsaari, Tyttäre), Lavassaar (Lavansaari), Seiskari. These are accompanied by smaller islands near the coast of Finland. Today, Haabsaar belongs to Finland, but Suursaar, Tütarsaar, Lavassaar and Seiskari were occupied by the Soviet Union and their inhabitants were evacuated to Finland before the war. The little cliff islands near Haabsaar (Askeri, Kaitee, Kuusenkari, Reiskari) deserve attention, because Estonians went fishing for Baltic herring there and left behind remains of fishing houses they built. Today, this area is part of a national park.
How was the trading performed? The tradition of friendship trading evolved due to economic necessities. Usually, a Finnish friend brought the so-called hay herring into Estonia in spring and it was paid for by grain in autumn. Winter herring was brought in autumn. Friendship and trading relationships date back for ages. The exchange relationship of Baltic herring and grain with the so-called eternal friends were constant. In addition to herring barrels, the Finnish left empty bags marked with their house signs, i.e. hearth signs, to the friend’s place in spring. The sign was made with tar or sewed. The Finnish supposedly made three trips per year to Estonia: the jaani-Viru (St. John’s day) in June, and the mardi-Viru (St. Martin’s day) and kadri-Viru (St. Catherine’s day) in November.
Estonians took up fishing trips in the Finnish waters, to the uninhabited islands near the coast. The probable reasons were the larger fish resources there and the fact that no good fish spawning and fishing places existed on their own coast. The trips of the Estonians are proved by Finnish data and folklore as well as by the remains of fishing huts. The houses of broken stones in Reiskari date back to the years 1770-1780, when a number of Estonian fishermen were fishing there.
A huge amount of birch bark or bark fish were brought on the trip to Estonia. These had been kept in thin brine and baked in an oven, but characteristically on a birch bark. These could also be baked on pine bark. The bark gave the fish a special taste. It is probably a very old way of preparing delicacy. The grain bringer was treated with ample vodka and coffee (ryypyillä and kahvilla). Friends were also given tasty white bread, apples, turnips and eggs, cloths and nice textile for the women left at home, also wool and hemp for spinning net ropes. Later, potatoes were brought next to rye. One measure equalled 8 potato measures. Peas and tobacco were brought as well.
The centuries of trips between Estonia and Finland gave more than the barrels of Baltic herring. People got to know the way of life, customs and language of another nation. Some newer fishing modes were taken into use. Living room furnishings were taken as a model and wooden sofas were made, the rocking chair fashion came from Finland as well. Window curtains and rag carpets started to be used.
In 1939, the last friendship trading boats from Tütarsaar left from Kunda and Mahu. The great silence of sixty-one years in the friendship relationships started with the beginning of the Second World War. The occupying power closed the sea and coast for the Estonians, who had considered the sea as their own for many thousands of years.
The year 2000 celebrated the rebirth of friendship trading – friendship fairs were again held in Kunda and Mahu. Today, the fair constitutes a cultural event for the Estonians as well as the Finnish. It is a bow to our ancestors who created the tradition that emphasizes all the beautiful friendship trading principles about openness and trust as well as pleasant and immediate gathering.
The stories of our fathers and grandfathers about friendship trading in their youth have sounded as fairy tales in coastal villages for many generations.
However, at the beginning of the 21st century, these stories became true again. The old tradition got a new life in the way and customs of the new time. The priceless values connected to friendship trading are interpersonal contacts, communication between kindred people and thus, sharing in both nations’ living and spiritual cultures. The revived friendship fair on the Kunda and Mahu shores offers the opportunity of meeting each other for the children and grandchildren of friends whose forefathers met as friends on the same shores hundreds of years ago.
FRIENDSHIP FAIR WILL BE HELD IN KUNDA AGAIN on 14.-15. July 2012