Kihnu

Kihnu can be reached by plane from Pärnu or by ferry from Manilaid. UNESCO proclaimed Kihnu's cultural space and traditions as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on 7 November 2003. Also called Kihnumua in the local dialect. Names in other languages include Ķīļu in Latvian, Kynö in Standard Swedish, Kin in Estonian Swedish, and historically, Kühnö in German. In Estonian Sign Language, the island is signed by imitating the vertical stripes of a Kihnu skirt. There are various theories on the etymology of the name Kihnu, with no consensus. The earliest recorded version of the name is Kyne, from 1386.

• Name — Kihnu • Native Name — Kihnu • Other Name — Kynö • Type — Island • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Type2 — Region • Subdivision Name2 — Pärnu County • Subdivision Type3 — Municipality • Subdivision Name3 — Kihnu Parish • Established Title — Municipality • Area Total Km2 — 16.38 • Elevation M — 29.6 • Population As Of — 2013 • Population Total — 690 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Timezone1 — EET • Utc Offset1 — +2 • Time Zone1 Dst — EEST • Utc Offset1 Dst — +3 • Postal Code Type — Postal codes • Postal Code — 88005

As the men of Kihnu have been frequently away at sea, women have run everyday life on the island and became the guardians of the island's cultural heritage, which includes handicrafts, dances, games, and music. The latter is an especially important part of the island's traditions and accompanies handicrafts, religious feasts, and other celebrations. Ancient runo-styled songs are also important, as is traditional clothing adorned with decorations and bright colours. There are elaborate wedding traditions, which are considered the "most complex and bright expression" of Kihnu culture. • Illustration — St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Kihnu Most inhabitants of Kihnu are Orthodox Christians, descendants of converts in the nineteenth century. Kihnu is known for its handicrafts and distinctive traditional clothing, which is still commonly worn today. It includes striped skirts (kört), patterned knit men's sweaters (troi), and knit mittens. Young women have traditionally organised evening get-togethers (ülalistmine, i.e., "sitting (staying) up (late)") to do handicrafts. Traditional cuisine includes rye bread with potatoes, pork fat, or Baltic herring added to the dough; eel soup, prepared by fishers; and sweet milk soup, an important dish at weddings. Seal hunting is practiced in Kihnu, and the meat is considered a delicacy. Another distinctive delicacy is the eggs of semi-domesticated mergansers (waterbirds), also used for baking cakes. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, numerous men from Kihnu became sailors. The most famous of them was the largely self-taught captain Enn Uuetoa, also known as Kihnu Jõnn (1848–1913; Jõnn is the local pronunciation of the name Enn).

The Kihnu dialect is thought to belong to the insular dialect group of North Estonian, along with the dialects of Saaremaa, Muhu, and Hiiumaa. Unlike the standard Estonian language, the Kihnu dialect has the vocal harmony found in other Finnic languages. Also unlike standard Estonian, the Kihnu dialect does not have the sound "h" at the beginning of a word—it is used only within words. The vocabulary of the language has also been influenced by other languages. The dialect includes triphthongs. The special intonation gives the listener the impression that the speaker is singing while speaking.

The island has a sandy interior and a rocky coast made up of more than fifty islets, which are an important nesting ground for birds. Along the dunes, beach ridges, and sands of the eastern part, the island reaches its maximum height of 29.6 m above sea level.

• Illustration — Kihnu Lighthouse • Illustration — An inn • Illustration — Seashore • Illustration — Museum • Illustration — Village road • Illustration — Garden • Illustration — A view of the coastline • Illustration — Pine forest • Illustration — Cemetery • Illustration — An adult grey seal on drift ice just off of the Kihnu coast • Illustration — A bird's eye view of part of Kihnu island • Illustration — Young girls in both modern and traditional dress returning from school