Essay: Christmases in Estonia (0)

Maarja Mägi 11B
Christmas celebrations in Estonia
In Estonia, Christmas time is considered to be the most important time of the year . In recent times , Christmases have grown to be more a commercial holiday . What is more, Estonian Christmas celebrations have been changed due to German cultural influences .
Christmases in Estonia on the whole have two meanings: first one is to celebrate the birth of the Christ and secondly it marks the whole period of mid- winter festivities. In Estonia’s folk tradition , Christmas (in Estonian “jõulud” is of ancient Scandinavian origin and has no connection with Christianity) was a time of year to celebrate the shortest day and longest night. At the same time, Christmas was the culmination of the late autumn celebrations. Christmas Eve and Christmas Night were the most sacred times of the season .
Nowadays , Christmases are simply considered to be a holiday to spend time with family and friends . Estonia has assimilated most of the traditions which were not relative to Estonia’s culture in the old times. Nevertheless, our tradition is to give gifts to each other but for example in America, Santa Claus brings his gifts by coming through the chimney .
As a rule , food plays a big role in Estonia’s Christmas table. Traditional Christmas meal consists of pork with sauerkraut and potatoes, white and blood sausage with cowberry jam. As a matter of fact that Estonians are fond of drinking, vodka and glogg will also be there next to the traditional food.
To conclude, most of the Estonians find Christmas to be one of the greatest times of the year. We, Estonians love to say in the end of this time of year that now we have to wait for St. John’s Day due to the fact that this is the second greatest holiday in Estonia.