A new book about the stories and legends of the town of Paide has been published
A new work has been added to the cultural history of Järva County – fresh off the press is the book “Stories and Legends of Paide”, compiled by Tiiu Saaristi and Elle Näppo, members of the Friends of Järvamaa Museum Society. The book launch will take place on 6 December at 12:00 in the Wittenstein Activity Museum, where those interested can also purchase the publication.
The collection opens the door to the world of Paide’s folklore – to stories that are partly drawn from real life, partly passed down by word of mouth, and at times seasoned with a playful touch of imagination. The authors say that compiling the book was a kind of journey through the city’s layers of history and ancient tales. “We can’t always just dawdle around like Fred Jüssi. We wanted to do something that would connect the stories of the past with today’s readers,” says Tiiu Saaristi.
The idea for the book was born in the board of the Friends of Järvamaa Museum Society, where it was warmly received, and the society decided to cover the printing costs. The work was supported by several helpers. An important milestone was “Timid Waters and Secret Paths: Place Folklore of Järvamaa” (2004), compiled by Mari-Ann Remmel, whose author permitted the text to be quoted and used as supporting material. The language of the text was polished by Anne Kivimäe, the book was printed and bound by Kuma Publishing, and the cover design and layout were created by Rainer Alas.
The selection of stories emerged through extensive searching. “Surprisingly many interesting episodes can be found in old newspapers, and older local residents also remember quite a lot,” the authors note. “We tried to present the stories as authentically as possible – just as they were told by the narrators of the past.”
The museum staff also contributed to the completion of the book: together with Ründo Müls, the authors visited various sites to take photos, and with the help of Maie Rüütli, suitable illustrations were found in the museum’s collections. Paide Music and Theatre House supported the printing of the materials.
Now the result is bound between covers – a warm, memory-laden and folklore-rich collection that invites readers to discover the history of Paide through the stories and legends of its people.