Day of fruitful idling
January 29
January 29 is the Day of fruitful idling („molutamine“ in Estonian). The day is connected to the birth anniversary of naturalist Fred Jüssi and to his way of thinking, which values silence, slowness, and being in harmony with nature.
Fruitful idling is not “wasting time”. It is a moment when you don't need to get anywhere or achieve anything. That is how space opens up for you to notice your own thoughts, your surroundings, and the rhythm that is always present in nature. In Hiiumaa, this comes naturally. The island is quiet and spacious, and nature is always close by.
Why Hiiumaa?
In Hiiumaa’s culture, there is a deeply rooted attitude expressed in the phrase “jo vaadab.” It means that the wise don't rush, and not everything has to happen immediately. Time moves at a different pace on the island, making it easier to truly experience molutamine, not as just an idea.
The day is not just a tribute to one person. It is a reminder that life is not made up solely of constant activity. Sometimes, the most sensible thing to do is to stop.
If you choose to spend the Day of fruitful idling in Hiiumaa, do so calmly. Enjoy the moment. And simply be present.
Read the article:
Fred Jüssi: „Laiskus on mehe mõõt!“
After the multifaceted Fred Jüssi died this year, Hiiumaa declared his birthdate, 29 January, to be a day of general idling. That’s because alongside everything else he was known for – from nature writer, photographer to scientist – Jüssi was a devotee of the art of doing nothing.
“In my time living on Hiiumaa, I’ve heard some good sayings from the islanders, and one of them is that laziness determines longevity. By knowing how to loaf, you preserve yourself...
How to spend the Day of fruitful idling?
On January 29, consciously slow down
Choose a quiet place: a forest path, the shore, your yard, or a room by a window
Set your phone aside or switch it to airplane mode
Sit, stand, or walk slowly, without a destination
Listen to the wind, birds, or the silence
Do not set goals or time limits
We inquired about the best locations for idling on the island and asked people connected to Hiiumaa what they thought of fruitful idling
ANGELICA UDEKÜLL
HEAD CHEF AND
HIIUMAA AMBASSADOR
In all bare-bones honesty, Hiiumaa is precisely the perfect place for idling, where time has a different dimension, and seems to slip into a slower speed as soon as you drive on to the ferry, the anchor gear is raised and the prow swings around to point toward Heltermaa.
I’m sure that everyone with ties to Hiiumaa has their own happy place on the island, somewhere to enjoy peace and quiet. For me, it’s Kõpu Peninsula and the shore of Mardihansu Bay, where sky and sea melt into one on the horizon and where for the most part you won’t encounter another living soul besides birds or deer. It’s where I recharge, where sometimes I find myself walking in my dreams.
By the way, have you ever heard how hiidlased describe a situation where they’re racing against the clock? Ah, I won’t make it anyway...
MAIT VAIK
WRITER AND MUSICIAN
When you come down to it, the best place for fruitful idling on Hiiumaa is your own yard, where you don’t need to do anything. Hiiumaa folk are lazy as mud, unlike inhabitants of neighbouring Saaremaa, who are a busy bunch, forever bustling and selling – they have to try to pawn everything off on all visitors from wooden spoons to home brew, to the accompaniment of accordion music. But when a tourist goes and asks a hiidlane to sell them a potato or two, they’ll say they don’t have anything to sell, but look, the garden is over there, go and dig one up. They won’t take your money. The hiidlane just sits back contentedly and waits calmly. Knowing that not doing anything also means you won’t do any harm gives confidence that an even better place awaits after you kick off.
INDREK IBRUS
MEDIA RESEARCHER AND SUMMERTIME HIIUMAA RESIDENT
In the big picture, all of Hiiumaa is a very suitable place for idling. But at the end of last summer, I discovered that a very good place for meditative downtime was among the dunes on Ristna Beach at sunset.
RAIMOND KALJULAID
POLITICIAN AND SUMMERTIME HIIUMAA RESIDENT
I have to admit that I'm not a big idler and I find it challenging just to be meditative and not actively engaged in activities. But if I had to give advice to a visitor to Hiiumaa, I would recommend driving here with bikes on your car. You can leave the car near the summertime shop in Kõpu and continue on two wheels to the lighthouse. From there, you can wend your way to Ristna Lighthouse on a variety of roads, make a stop at the KalanaÄÄR restaurant and return via Kaleste and Kõpu villages. I very often cycle in that area and the forests and beaches of Kõpu Peninsula are unparalleled in beauty in all of Estonia.