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Vikerlase (Vikerlane)
Estonian viking. Vikerlased (Vikings), was the first Estonian opera to be written, premièred in Tartu’s Vanamuise theatre on 8th Sept. 1928. Renamed (1979-1995) as Kuramaa during the Soviet occupation. And the point of that was?... Odd intruder to the magico-mythological group perhaps influenced by its alphabetical predecessor Varraku. Part of a magico-mythological group. See Vilisuu.
Vilisuu (Vilisuu)
Lit. Whistle-mouth. Differing explanations: 1) Rarely-used bogey-man type threat for children: Ära mine õue, vilisuu tuleb! (Don’t go out, Vilisuu will get you!). Folklore character related to other Estonian wind spirits, such as Marumemm (storm-crone), Tuuleisa (wind-dad) or Tuuleema (wind-mother), and perhaps also to Tuuslar; or, for some, 2) synonym of Külmataat, taat meaning old man or greybeard, etc., a sort of Slavic-culture Santa Claus known by the name Дед [Дедушка] Мороз (Ded [Dedushka] Moroz), or ‘Old Man Frost’ (but see Pakase). Renamed (1979-1995) as Tehumardi during the Soviet occupation. Part of a magico-mythological group. See Virbi.
Viljandi (Viljandi)
Town in southern Estonia first mentioned in 1283, although hill-fort mentioned by al-Idrisi in 1154. Formerly known as Fellinn, or Velyad or Velnevik. Major fortification of the Hanseatic Livonian Order, today home to the annual July Viljandi Folk Music Festival. Local settlements date back to 5th millennium BCE. Nearby Võrtsjärv (lake) is the largest natural eel breeding location in Europe. See Tallinn-Viljandi.
Villkäpa (Villkäpp)
Probably hele-villkäpp, the pale tussock moth, Calliteara pudibunda. Pudibunda, or modest, shy, perhaps for the habit of the caterpillar (once known in hop-picking times as the ‘hop-dog’) curling up into a (protective) circle/ball? Part of a lepidopteran group. See also Öölase.
