Singing Saturdays at the Estonia Pavilion will now be a daily event due to its overwhelming popularity.
The now daily group karaoke, which was previously only held on Saturdays, begins every evening at 6pm. Visitors have a chance to sing in Estonian, Chinese or English along with an Estonian choir.
“Estonia and China share the same passion for singing,” said Toomas Tiivel, Commissioner General of the Estonia Pavilion.
“Singing Saturdays is not just to promote Estonian culture and Tallinn (the country’s capital) as the European culture capital in 2011. It’s also the most powerful way for Chinese and Estonians to cultivate their common passion and strengthen friendships.”
Choral singing is one of the most recognizable traditions of Estonia’s national culture. Every five years in July at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, more than 26,000 people come together to sing.
These celebrations date to 1869 and are one of the largest amateur choral events in the world. UNESCO declared them a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Meanwhile, to attract more participants to the pavilion, there is also a monthly lucky draw.
The winner receives a oneweek holiday package from Shanghai to Tallinn for two people.
The first winner was chosen yesterday from more than 16,000 entries. Ji Haoyuan of Shanghai was the winner.
Visitors who sing at the Estonia Pavilion can download a recording of it from www. savecity.org.
Shanghai Daily