Ivan Orav"Orav" means "squirrel" in Estonian (September 1, 1908 – June 19, 2009) is a fictional character created by Estonian writer Andrus Kivirähk, who published a book "Memoirs of Ivan Orav or the Past as Azure Mountains" (Ivan Orava mälestused, ehk, Minevik kui helesinised mäedMemoirs of Ivan Orav , text ) in 1995. The book mocks popular stereotypes about the interbellum period of Estonian independence.ON THE GENRE LOGIC OF REHEPAPP BY ANDRUS KIVIRÄHK IN THE CONTEXT OF FOLKLORE GENRES, by Ott Heinapuu & Katre Kikas, citing Kivirähk, Andrus, "Ivan Orava mälestused ehk Minevik kui helesinised mäed", Tallinn, 1995
Over time, the character was fleshed out (through publications in Eesti Päevaleht newspaper), anticipatedArdo Kaljuvee, Ivan Orav - Kuulus tiblakütt ootab suurt juubelit ja surma and celebratedIvan Orav - 100! his 100th anniversary. His biography was finalised in his obituary next year. Ivan Orav on lahkunud ["Ivan Orav Has Passed Away"]
During 1994 and 1995 a TV series Vabariigi valvur was aired with Andrus Vaarik as Ivan Orav.
In the summertime of 2004 the Estonian State Archives joined the joke by uncovering and publishing a birth register of the Tõhela-Murru Eastern Orthodox Church which said that Ivan Orav and his wife Jelisaveta had daughter Lyudmila. Also, before the coming of the Soviet he changed his name to Jaan in 1939."Ivan Orav sai lapse..." ("Ivan Orav Had a Child...") , English version; see under "July"; texts differ
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