Legend
The wedding guests who became the Lehmja oaks
Near the town of Jüri, about twelve kilometres south-east of Tallinn, stands a grove of gnarled old trees known as the Lehmja oak forest. Local folklore has a strange explanation for how they came to be there. According to the legend, a wedding party once danced on the grass at this spot, and as punishment the whole company was cursed and turned into oaks, the newlyweds and their guests rooted to the ground forever. Old oak groves were often holy places for Estonians, and a hill by the former Lehmja manor border is still remembered as a sacred site, so the story may echo much older beliefs about these trees. The ancient Lehmja oaks can still be visited, and their twisted shapes do look a little like frozen dancers.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Jüri aleviku lähedal, umbes kaksteist kilomeetrit Tallinnast kagus, kasvab sõlmiliste vanade puude salu, mida tuntakse Lehmja tammikuna. Kohalik pärimus seletab nende tekkimist kummaliselt. Legendi järgi tantsis siin kord pulmarahvas murul ning karistuseks neetigi kogu seltskond ja muudeti tammedeks – noorpaar ja külalised juurdusid igaveseks maa külge. Vanad tammikud olid eestlastele sageli pühad paigad ning Lehmja mõisa endise piiri ääres asuvat küngast mäletatakse siiani pühapaigana, nii et lugu võib kanda palju vanemaid uskumusi nende puude kohta. Iidseid Lehmja tammesid saab tänini külastada ning nende käänulised kujud meenutavad tõesti pisut tardunud tantsijaid.
Source: Atlas Obscura ↗