Tallinna Inglise Kolledž

Estonia
Topic

Alice Tärk, 9b

Tallinn 2007

FACTFILE

Area: 45 228 sq km
Poplulation: under 1.4 million
Capital: Tallinn
Language: Estonian
Currency : Eesti kroon (EEK)
Main religion: Lutheran
National holiday : 24 February
( anniversary of the republic )
National flower : Cornflower
National bird: Barn Swallow
National stone: Limestone

LOCATION

The Republic of Estonia is the northernmost and smallest of the three Baltic States . It is located on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea in the north - east of Europe . To the east the country borders Russia . Latvia is the countries neighbour to the south . From the west the coast of Estonia is washed by the Baltic Sea and from the north by the Gulf of Finland. The length of the coastline is approximately 3 800 km. The longest distance from east to west is 350 km, while north to south Estonia stretches 240 km.

THE NAME

The name EESTI was apparently derived from the word AISTI, the name given by ancient Germans to the peoples living north-east of the Vistula River . Tacitius, the Roman historian, was the first one to mention it (AESTI), while the Arab scholar al-Idrisi was the first one to mark it on a map (as ASTLANDA ). To the ancient Scandinavians the land was known as EISTLAND; to modern Scandinavians it is known as ESTLAND. Most contemporary languages use the Latin name ESTONIA.

FLAG

The Estonian blue - black -and-white national flag was originally the flag of the Estonian Student’s Society, consecrated in Otepää Church in 1884. today there is a memorial plaque on the church wall commemorating the event. The Flag Museum attracts tourists who take an interest in the history of the flag.
After about half a century , during which it was prohibited by the Soviet authorities, the flag was sen again in public for the first time in Tartu. Many elderly people were carrying the flags they had kept in secret hiding places durin the Soviet years ; tears were rolling down their cheeks. On 24 February 1989, Estonia, still part of the Soviet Union, hoisted its tricolour on the tower of Pikk Hermann in Tallinn. Since then the flag has always been hoisted with ceremony on that day, which is the national holiday – the anniversary of the Republic. According to Estonian tradition the national flag is hoisted at sunrise and lowered at sunset – exept on June 23 when it is left out for the shortest night of the year .

NATIONAL ANTHEM

The Estonian national anthem, entitled “My Native Land , My Pride and Joy”, was composed in 1848 by Friedrich Pacius, a Finn of German descent. The Estonian-language words were written by Johann Voldemar Jannsen . In 1869 it was performed at the first all-Estonian Song Festival in Tartu and gained popularity during the period of the national movement .
Estonians carried the melody in their hearts and souls during Soviet occupation, when it was banned. Another song “My Native Land, My Dearest Love” by Gustav Ernesaks , became an unofficial anthem at that time and enabled the people to express their feelings of national identity.

COAT OF ARMS

Lions were first used as Estonia’s heraldic emblem in the 13th century when they appeared on the large coat of arms of Tallinn. The originated from Denmark , which was ruling Northern Estonia at that time.