This year’s decoration at the Tondiraba skating rink, the site of the evening prayers, is inspired by the work of Estonian artist Anu Raud. Born in 1943, Anu Raud is a well-known Estonian textile artist. She lives and works on a farm in the countryside near Tartu. She draws her inspiration from the country’s traditional motifs, from observation of her surroundings and from the view out of her window. She is also actively involved in promoting Estonian art and folk culture.

The formats and motifs used for the decoration plunge us into winter and cold, bringing together different elements of the Estonian countryside and culture. At the heart of it all, a simple scene opens up before us: the birth of Jesus. In the cold and snow, a warm home, a welcoming manger. The crib becomes the center that brings us together in common prayer, warmth enveloping us at the heart of winter.

When we presented our decoration project to Anu Raud, she reacted as follows: “We’re in the middle of the dark days of November in Estonia, and we’re waiting for the light, we’re waiting for the birth of a king, the birth of Jesus.”

An article on this page shows some aspects of the life and work of the artist Anu Raud.