Estonian holidays, festivals, cultural events (1)

Holidays , Festivals , Cultural events
TALLINN - If you're looking for entertainment in Estonia this summer , you are really spoiled for choice . Festivals and events dedicated to the consumption of beer are a lot of fun, but if you want to get the true feel of the country , you need something a little more ethnic . Like a town fair .
Just as July becomes August, the seaside town of Haapsalu will host a grand spectacle of rural Estonian entertainment. The White Lady Days is a summer celebration filled with amusement for all the family. Held in and around the remains of the Teutonic-knights-era castles , the fair combines enchanting medieval legends with modern countryside charm to create a comprehensive experience of Estonia beyond the big cities.
But the legend of the White Lady of Haapsalu, which is at the heart of the festival , is perhaps the most famous tall tale of the many that are so abundant in Estonia's folklore .
It is the story of a poor girl who falls in love with the son of the village elder, and disguises herself as a choirboy in order to sneak into the castle . But, alas , the lord of the manor 's son discovers the deception. He is overcome by jealous rage and orders his men to seal the girl inside the thick stone walls while still alive. Turned into an incarnation of undying love, the White Lady now appears every August, on the night of the full moon, in the Dome Church chapel window .
Haapsalu is seven -and-a- quarter centuries old this year , and the townsfolk intend to make it a celebration to remember . The annual dance and light show dedicated to the Lady alone involves over 100 performers - and you'll have several chances to catch it over the four days of the event. Musical shows , dances and contests of strength and skill will be held all over town.
This festival is held in August and it is said that Haapsalu, Estonia's most famous ghost , appears during this festival
Black nights film festival
http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/fpage/events/newwin-print/
Beerfestival ( Õllesummer)
The beer festival “Õllesummer” is one of the largest festivals in the region —bringing together 80,000 people each year. Õllesummer is located in the Tallinn Song Festival grounds which is located 15 minutes walking time from the center of the city. The program includes Estonian bands and international acts as well featuring over a 100 concerts on more than 10 stages. Õllesummer is a friendly , safe and joyful event that attracts many tourists and visitors of Tallinn. Next Õllesummer festival will take place between 8-12 July 2009 in Tallinn Song Festival Grounds and offers again a huge variety of Estonian and International artists , special projects for the whole family.
Beer culture plays a basic role in Õllesummer – the festival has its origins in a beer festival and up to this day more than a hundred different beers from around the world can be tasted at Õllesummer.Food is offered at a number of different cuisine restaurants and cafes. Over the years many performers and starts have appeared at the festival. In 2007 more than a hundred performers appeared at more than ten stages. The selection of music varies from jazz to rock and disco . It is a great Estonian party which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Estonian Song Festival ( Laulupidu )
The All-Estonian Song Festival (Laulupidu) happens in Tallinn every five years, and gives a privileged insight into Estonian music and culture. Its aim is to bring together all the traditional songs and singers from across the country, as well as guest singers from other countries.
The first All-Estonian Song Festival was held in 1869 in the town of Tartu, near the centre of Estonia. Around 870 singers took part , along with 76 musicians. Things have changed a lot, and today , the average festival gathering involves 25,000 participants, including large, joint choirs from all over Estonia. Festivals often close with choirs of around 25,000 taking part in an electrifying finale, in front of an open -air audience of about 100,000.
The festival takes place at the beginning of July, and it's common for many Estonians to take the week off work and travel to Tallinn to join in the celebrations. Visitors from other countries converge in Tallinn to experience the powerful singing , lively dances and intricate, colourful folk costumes at first hand . If you're interested in seeing this spectacular live performance , or maybe even taking part in a festival, the next event happens in 2004, 2009 and 2013.
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The song festivals began in 1869, part of the romantic and nationalist movement in Europe . They developed a network of interactions among people along with making folk customs more widely known and practiced. The solidarity that the continued performance of the song festivals fostered, along with the logistics of moving large numbers of people around the country, served the Estonians well in their enormous demonstration for freedom in 1989, the Baltic Chain.
The official Üldlaulupidu site gives a route to ordering VHS tapes and DVDs of the song and dance festivals. It also has a gazillion photos.
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here are a few facts about it :
- 831 choirs with more than 26 000 singers in all
- 47 orchestras with more than 1600 young orchestrants
- alltogether almost 100 000 people, that counts for apprx 8% of Estonian population.
- Estonians (though it’s a very small country) have the biggest song festival in the world !
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The Singing Revolution tells the extraordinary story of the non-violent path Estonia took to free itself from Soviet occupation . A documentary film about a nation peacefully standing up for its freedom through song, with the unstoppable dream of reclaiming Estonian independence.
http://www.squidoo.com/estonias_singing_revolution
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The tradition of the song festival was born along with Estonian national awakening. The first national song festival was held in Tartu in the summer of 1869. One of the organizers of the first song festival was Johann Voldemar Jannsen . In the first three festivals only men's choirs and brass orchestras participated. 822 singers and 56 brass players participated in the first festival. Starting with the fourth festival, mixed choirs were also participating. Starting with the sixth festival in 1896, the festival tradition moved to Tallinn.
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It began in 1947, during the first song festival (Laulupidu) held after the Soviet occupation, when a century -old national poem, forbidden by the Soviets, was set to music. “Mu Isamaa on minu arm” (“Lands of My Fathers, Land That I Love”) was set to music and the song became the unofficial Estonian national anthem that miraculously slipped by the Soviet censors. In 1969, more than a hundred thousand participants gathered for the century anniversary of a national song festival and, in a spontaneous act of non-violent resistance, sang this song. For fifty years, it was a musical statement of every Estonian’s desire for freedom.
http://www.blogto.com/events/3626
Pärnu Hanseatic Days 2008
June 27th – 28th
Pärnu prepares for the International Hanseatic Days of 2010 by holding handicraft fairs every summer. Traditionally, the Hanseatic Days are declared open by the Mayor who leads the colourful procession from the City Hall to the field of Vallikäär. Among the traders there shall be a stage in the site of the fair, where both singers and actors shall perform . A knights’ tournament and several dance shows shall take place. http://www.visitparnu.com/index.php?id=789&L=1
The city of Pärnu has been organizing Hanseatic Days since 2006 with the aim of preparing for the International Hanseatic Days in 2010.
The festival is one of the most festive events in the summer in Pärnu.
Each year the festival has a historic theme . Those who wish to meet knights, try archery and horse -riding have the chance to do so at the Hanseatic Days. The festival also features a mediaeval market and welcomes traders who sell handicraft, goods made from natural materials as well as food.
The Hanseatic Days is a festival for the whole family with an emphasis on learning different techniques, taking part in a range of activities as well as workshops.
IX Estonian Linedancing Festival June 14th -15th
Linedancing festival, which was originally organised in Pärnu, is now taking place outside its borders – in Sassi farm , Audru rural municipality. The festival set a Guinness record in 2006 for the longest line of dancers with 1,246 participants. The record was beaten in Canada last year, so the aim of this year’s festival is to get the title back . For that purpose, organizers have invited participants from all over Estonia but also from Lithuania , Latvia and Finland . The record-breaking event will take place on the first day of the festival – on June 14th, 2008.    
 
XXII Pärnu Film Festival July 6th - 26th
The Museum of New Art, Esplanaadi 10, Pärnu
The Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival, founded in 1987, is the oldest film festival in Estonia. The initiator of the festival was  writer and  former president of the Republic of Estonia Lennart Meri. Since its first appearance, the festival has built an efficient bridge between cultural anthropologists and film makers from the East and the West .
The festival is held during the first full week of every July. An international jury awards the grand prize for the best film; awards are also given to the best film about the survival of indigenous peoples and the best scientific research. Two separate competitions take place for documentary films made by children and created for them . The seven best films are aired by Estonian TV during the festival. From these seven outstanding documentaries the audience selects the Estonian People’s Award winner. The award is delivered by the President of Estonia or the speaker of the Riigikogu ( parliament ) at the closing night of the festival.
The annual film festival has been run from its inception by Mark Soosaar , internationally recognised filmmaker . http://www.visitparnu.com/index.php?id=789&L=1
Schooldance
The School Dance festival, which is organised by the Estonian Dance Agency . This is the most popular and prestigious festival, with the biggest number of young participants in Estonia. Its aim is to motivate young people to express themselves through dance and movement. The young people and their supervisors must create the dances performed in School Dance. School Dance focuses on finding and developing young talented dancers as possible future professionals, in order to help to raise the art of dance to the same professional level as other kinds of art. In addition to Estonian groups, other groups from abroad participate in the final event of the festival.
 
The Tartu ski marathon in the worldloppet series
Every year, the Worldloppet Ski Federation promotes cross -country skiing marathons in fourteen countries. Founded in Sweden in 1978, Worldloppet incorporates one top race from each member country. Skiers that complete at least 10 Worldloppet races , including one overseas, if not all 14, become Masters. There are currently over 2400 Masters, some of whom have completed the circuit multiple times . Each race with its own personality and traditions has options for everyone, from 79km races to 5km sprints mingling elite and beginners skiers to create an atmosphere of camaraderie and festivity.
Tallinn Old Town Days
Merchants and performers from neighbouring countries and beyond bring along their treats to Tallinn's Old Town for the Tallinn Old Town Days. The theme in 2008 is " Meeting Point of Cultures ", emphasising the city's openness and development over the centuries.
Lasting seven days and seven nights, this year's street market focuses on baby performers. Am attempt to re- create the city’s medieval atmosphere, with jousting, minstrels, traditional Estonian music, and open- air markets .
Taking place each June in the heart of this historic city, Old Town Days is a great medieval festival which sees the streets filled with participants dressed in the traditional clothes of that period . Events include a traditional street market, authentic medieval food and drink stalls, street entertainers, folk music and traditional dancing.
 
Simpel session
Name: Simpel Session 09
Time: 16-18th January
Place: Saku Suurhall, Tallinn Estonia
Simpel Session has been around for seven years and has grown to a major contest and meeting point both in the world of skateboarding and BMX. But although rocking a crazy line-up of riders from around the globe , awesome skatepark layout and cutting-edge media broadcasts, it's still just one huge party where riders come to hang out with their friends and enjoy the laid-back vibe.
As one goes we'll be down with two events - skateboarding street and BMX street. We're very happy to have two of these sports combined in Simpel Session as they feed from each other and make the contest stand out from todays trends . Our recent skatepark setups were real favourites among skaters and bikers alike - this is something we're really stoked on and continue to experiment with. Unconventional course enriches both sports and pushes them in new directions.
Besides street we are making Red Bull & Snickers special events as well as more regular best trick jams. And as everyone knows parties are of course important part of the event.
http://www.session.ee/
Tallinn Winter Festival
Six concerts will be organised all together at the Town Hall, St Charles' church and St John's church.The motto of the Festival Is "OPEN YOUR EYES, OPEN YOUR HEART".
That sentence goes together with a benefit campaign for children with special needs in Day Care Center Käo.
With your kind support for the children we can acquire the technical communications aids and physiotherapeutical aids to master and keep the children's skills in our center.
Together we hope to give the children of Day Care Centre a s
Black Nights film festival
The most important cultural festival in the run up to Christmas is the two weeks Black Nights film festival, which begins in late November and offers new feature films from around the world, competitions for student films, films for children, and animated shorts.
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival is a unique event combining main feature film festival with the sub-festivals of animated films, student films and children/ youth films. The festival aims to present Estonian audiences a comprehensive selection of world cinema in all its diversity with the emphasis on European films. Festival tries to provide friendly atmosphere for interaction between the audience, Estonian filmmakers and their colleagues from abroad.
The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival consists of the main programme and 3 sub-festivals:
1. main programme (3 – 12 December) - Presents feature-length fiction films from previous 2 years, retrospective of a filmmaker, genre or studio , and focus on a country.
2. Animation Film Festival "Animated Dreams" (8 – 12 December) - Competition of short animations from previous 3 years. Also in programme a retrospective of a filmmaker and focus on a country.
3. Sleepwalkers Student Film Festival (27 November – 3 December) - In competition student films from 3 previous years - fiction, documentary animation films. Special programme of the first works of renown film-makers, selection of one film school and selection of one film festival.
4. Children and Youth Film Festival "Just Film" (27 November – 4 December) - Presents programmes of children's films and youth films as well as retrospective of a film-maker or a genre
When:
13 Nov - 7 Dec 2008 (annual)
Where:
Tallinn
The Black Nights Film Festival brings the best of world cinema to audiences in Tallinn.
The main programme revolves around the EurAsia and Estonian feature film competition, while the Sleepwalkers' Student Film Festival gives audiences the chance to watch fiction, documentary and animation films produced by students in the last two years. There are also sections for animated shorts and children's films.
The films are shown at various cinemas in Tallinn - please visit the festival website for more details.
Black Nights Film Festival main programme (28 November - 7 December) - International competition programme EurAsia and Baltic feature film competition. Informative side programmes include fiction and documentary features from previous 2 years, retrospective of a filmmaker, genre or studio, and focus on a country
Jazzkaar http://www.jazzkaar.ee/ february
Jazkaar in Jazzikuu
When: Apr 2009 (annual)
Since 2007 Estonia has chimed with the international designation of April as jazz month (jazzikuu). Within the month there is a more focused festival named after organiser Jazkaar, playing host to many talented musicians and top jazz performers.
Concerts take place in a variety of venues including City Hall, the Sakala Centre and some of the city's theatres and clubs . Jazzkaar has been celebrating jazz in Tallinn since 1990 and was happy to follow America's Smithsonian Institution 2001's inauguration of April being should be "Jazz Appreciation Month."
The programme for Jazkaar 2008 includes, from America, Dave Douglas Quintet, Roy Ayers and Al Di Meola; from Canada, Gino Vanelli; from Benin , Angelique Kidjo ; from Brazil , Leny Andrade (Brazil); and from Israel, Avishai Cohen. Also performing are Norway 's Dinosau and Iceland 's Jaguar.
Jazzkaar (Jazz Arc over Estonia) acquired its present form in 1990, following the tradition, initiated by Uno Naissoo and Valter Ojakäär, which survived the Soviet era with difficulty. After Estonia regained its independence, new possibilities opened to invite world-famous jazz artists to perform alongside Estonian musicians and place Tallinn Festival on the world’s jazz map. Jazzkaar offers the best opportunities for Estonian jazz artists to see the work of current top jazz artists from all over the world. The aim of the Festival is to offer a broad selection of music from avant -garde tendencies to mainstream-jazz, world music and blues .
http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=24935
Jazzkaar Christmas Jazz
When: Dec 2008 (annual)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Estonia's Christmas Jazzkaar Festival, made up of 18 concerts in Tallinn, Tartu, Parnu, Viljandi, Johvi and Rapla , presents jazz stars from around the world, including South African headliners Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
The 2007 line-up also includes the Swedish Anomie Orchestra, Tunisian vocalist and oud player Dhafer Youssef and New York Voices singer Peter Eldridge. Siiri Sisask and the Kristjan Randalu Quartet are among the Estonian representatives. The concert venues in each of the Estonian towns range from churches to clubs and theatres.
Every year, the festival organises a charity concert called Help Bring Life, with the proceeds going to the children of Pelgulinna Maternity Hospital . This year, Hedvig Hanson, James Werts and Andre Maaker and his band are performing traditional Christmassy songs with the Estonian Radio Children Singing Studio on 9 December.
http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=187057
Klaver - Tallinn's International Pianist Festival
When: 24 - 31 Oct 2008 (biennial)
Pianists from all over the world work their musical magic at Klaver, Tallinn's International Pianist Festival, held at Estonia Concert Hall. The musicians focus just as much on contemporary piano -playing trends as they do on classic tunes from well-known composers.
Klaver translates as piano in Estonia. Past guests at the festival have included Mikhail Pletniov, Cyprien Katsaris, John Lill, Angela Hewitt, Marc-Andre Hamelin, Arcadi Volodos, Piotr and Charles Rosen.
The International Pianists Festival PIANO was established in 1998 and is biannual.
Lauri Väinmaa: “Festival brings to Estonia world class pianists, presents mature masters and upcoming stars from Estonia and abroad and introduces the art of piano playing in its many-sidedness.”
Mikhail Pletnev, Cyprien Katsaris, Louis Lortie, Angela Hewitt, Marc-Andre Hamelin, Piotr Anderszewski, Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Alexandre Tharaud among many others have performed in the festival during its short history. PIANO has become very popular and enjoys now the biggest audience among classical music festivals in Estonia.
During the festival “Piano ‘08” master classes of Frederic Rzewski, Paul Lewis and Pascal Roge take place in collaboration with the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
The co-orgnizers and supportes of the festival:
Ministry of Culture, Cultural Endownment of Estonia, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Embassy of United States , French Culture Centre, Tallinn High School of Music, The Estonian Piano Teacher ’s Association, Estnian National Library, Theatre and Music Museum
 
http://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=187120
Rabarock
When:
Jun 2009 (annual)
Where:
Järvakandi
Sparks , on tour in support of new album Exotic Creatures of the Deep , and The Fall headline the Rabarock music festival in Järvakandi.
In previous years the festival has been purely a rock festival, but this year sees it cater for more varied tastes. The line-up still features plenty for hard rock fans like Scandinavian acts Truckfighters, Los Bastardos Finlandeses and Kotiteollisuus.
Electric Eel Shock , Black Lips and Danko Jones also rock pretty hard, while Vaiko Eplik & Eliit are an experimental local outfit. Krautrock-influenced British band Fujiya & Miyagi offer a more spacey sound
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People’s cultural activities are mostly based upon ancient traditions.The costums of the Estonians are those of the countryfolk, because rites usually sprang up in rular communities. They were passed on from generation to generation and quite often the actions were later performed without any thought being given to the original . As time passed, rural costums penetrated towns, where they were adapted to modern living conditions. The townfolk also introduced customs with an international character . Those new traditions included, for exmaple April Fool ’s Day, the Christmas tree and Santa Claus at the beginning of the 20th century.
According to research, the Estonian folk calendar contains about a hundred memorable days(some observed only locally) St. Martin’s Day and St. Catherine ’s Day (both in november) are still considered quite popular entertainment for young people.
Most Estonain families consider Christmas the most imporant holiday of the year and ’ going home for Christmas’ is as popular in Estonia as elsewhere in the world.
History of Estonian calendar holidays
Summer started on 23 april, St. George’s Day and ended on 29 September, Michaelmas.
The circle of the year, based on the sun, was divided into two by the solstices.After Christmas, days started getting longer and from St. John’s Day they started getting shorter. These two occasions were also old Etonian’s greatest festivals.
Shrove Tuesday( Vastlapäev)
Was the day of preparation for Lent . Trotters and bean or pea soup was eaten on that day. A custom observed all over Estonia on this day was sledge sliding: the farther downhill the sledge slid, the taller the flax would grow .
February 2 - Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty Tartu Peace Treaty (Estonian: Tartu rahu, literally "Tartu peace") or Treaty of Tartu was a peace treaty between Estonia and Russian SFSR signed in February 2, 1920 ending the Estonian War of Independence. The terms of the treaty stated that " Russia unreservedly recognizes" the independence of Republic of Estonia de jure and renounced in perpetuity all rights to the territory of Estonia.
24 February Independence Day: the 84th anniversary of the declaration founding the Rebuplic of Estonia (1918). On February 24, marks the anniversary of the proclamation of the Independence Manifesto in 1918 that led to the founding of the Republic of Estonia. A modest military parade takes place on Vabaduse väljak and the atmosphere is one of quiet restraint; following the proclamation, it took Estonian soldiers and illequipped volunteers nearly two years to clear the territory of German and Soviet Russian forces.
On April Fool’s Day (1 April), people delight in playing tricks on each other. Two holidays in June commemorate historical events
11 April Easter Sunday Easter is celebrated from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Easter eggs are delicately painted, and special foods are eaten during this time. At the Pentecost (50 days after Easter), eggs are painted again.
Estonians have called Easter the spring holiday, the egg festival and swing festival. All these names refer to activities carried out during the holidays. According to the ecclesiastical calendar, Lent came to an end on that day and it was allowed to eat meat again. A general custom was dyeing eggs. They were exchanged and presented to friends. The tradition is still practiced today.
Good Friday is a quiet day, and everyone is back to work or school on Easter Monday . Easter Sunday is a family affair, with relatives getting together for long lunches. One popular traditional dish is pashka or pasha , a Russian- style dessert made with curd cheese , almonds and raisins. In the run- up to Easter people seek out the whitest eggs for painting and many hold egg-paintings parties. The eggs are used to decorate the table. Children play at breaking eggs, as in British conker competitions. It also customary to bring young willow twigs indoors for sprouting; sometimes grass seeds are planted in pots.Easter, according to recent polls, is most respected by the older generation, by women , and by non- Estonians. Rular Easter customs, such as games involving eggs, are usually enacted at the Estonian Open Air Museum.
St. George’s Day
On St. George’s Day ( 23 April) the work in the fields began and cattle were let out to pastures on that day. There were several rituals to gain good luck involving cattle and horses .
April 30- May 1 Volbriöö
In Estonia, Volbriöö is celebrated on the night from April 30 to May 1, with the following day (May 1) being a public holiday of lesser importance called "Spring Day" (Kevadpüha). Yet Volbriöö itself has considerable importance as one of the main reasons to party across the country. Influenced by German culture, the night originally stood for the gathering and meeting of witches. Nowadays some people still dress up as witches and wander the streets in a carnival-like mood.
Yet for most Estonians, Volbriöö has become a reason to celebrate the arrival of Spring with huge outdoor drinking and partying throughout the night. This is especially strongly honoured in Tartu, the university town in Southern Estonia. For Estonian students in student corporations (fraternities and sororities), the night starts with a traditional march on the streets of Tartu, followed by visiting of each others' corporation houses all night, drinking lots of beer as they stay with the hosts and move along the streets from one place to another . The following day (May 1) is known as Kaatripäev (Hanover Day, derived from the German word 'Kater' meaning 'Hangover').
June 4 - National Flag Day The blue-black-white flag was first consecrated at Otep ?? on the 4th of June, 1884, as the flag of the Estonian University Student Association. During the following years the blue-black-white flag became a national symbol .
The Provisional Government of Estonia adopted a resolution on the 21st of November, 1918, proclaiming the blue-black-white flag the state flag. The Law on State Flag was adopted by the Parliament (Riigikogu) on the 27th of June, 1922.After the forcible annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in June, 1940, this flag was banned.
In 1987/88, during the days of the "singing revolution", or the process of regaining independence, the blue-black-white flag was used openly as a national symbol. On the 24th of February, 1989, the blue-black-white national flag of Estonia was flown from the tower of Pikk Hermann .
23 June Victory Day Võidupüha or Victory Day is a public holiday in Estonia, which has been celebrated on 23 June every year since 1934. The date recalls the victory in the 1919 Battle of Wenden (near Cēsis, Latvia) of the Estonian military forces and their allies over German forces who sought to re-assert Baltic-German control over the region. The battle was part of the 1918-1920 Estonian War of Independence, where the main adversary of the newly independent Estonia was the Communist Russia. Today, Võidupüha also marks the contributions of all Estonians in their fight to regain and retain their independence.
Estonian celebration of June 23 is ceremonially tied to the following Midsummer Day celebrations on June 24. According to Estonian laws , the state flags are not to be lowered during the night between the days.
Jaanipäev (St. John’s Eve)
This is the climax of the midsummer events. June 23 is considered the night of magical powers and is the eve of Jaanipaev. The traditional way to celebrate this event is to head out to the countryside. Here the citizens of Estonia will light bonfires and dance and sing around the fires ; they will also look for the mystical fern flower which is supposed to bloom only on this night and will bring luck to those who find it
It marks the shortest night of the day and is celebrated by bonfires, dancing and searching for the fern flower that is only believed the blossom on that one night of the year. According to an Estonian legend, two lovers, Twilight and Dawn , meet briefly and exchange a kiss . Those old and new customs coexist in harmony influencing each other and bringing variety anf glamour to people’s everyday lives.
"Jaanipäev" ("John's Day" in English ) was celebrated long before the arrival of Christianity in Estonia, although the day was given its name by the crusaders. The arrival of Christianity, however , did not end pagan beliefs and fertility rituals surrounding this holiday. In 1578, Balthasar Russow wrote in his Livonian Chronicle about Estonians who placed more importance on the festival than going to church. He complained about those who went to church, but did not enter, and instead spent their time lighting bonfires, drinking, dancing, singing and following pagan rituals.Midsummer marks a change in the farming year, specifically the break between the completion of spring sowing and the hard work of summer hay-making.
Understandably, some of the rituals of Jaanipäev have very strong folkloric roots . The best-known Jaanik, or midsummer, ritual is the lighting of the bonfire and the jumping over it. This is seen as a way of guaranteeing prosperity and avoiding bad luck. Likewise, to not light the fire is to invite the destruction of your house by fire. The fire also frightened away mischievous spirits who avoided it at all costs , thus ensuring a good harvest. So, the bigger the fire, the further the mischievous spirits stayed away.
Estonians celebrate "Jaaniõhtu" ("John's Night" in English ) on the eve of the Summer Solstice (June 23) with bonfires. On the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa , old fishing boats may be burnt in the large pyres set ablaze. On Jaaniõhtu, Estonians all around the country will gather with their families, or at larger events to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing, as Estonians have done for centuries. The celebrations that accompany Jaaniõhtu are the largest and most important of the year, and the traditions are similar those of Sweden, Finland and the southern neighbour Latvia.
Since 1934 the June 23 is also national Victory Day of Estonia and both 23 & 24 are holidays.
20 August Day of Restoration of Independence: Estonia regains independence after Soviet times.
The public holiday celebrates the restoration of independence in 1991, when the failed hard – line coup in Moscow led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Museums are usually closed on this day.
November 2 - All Souls' Day The Day of the Souls (2 November) is a day to remember the dead.A time of prayer for the departed , acquired particular poignancy during the Soviet occupation, when people visited the graves of friends and relatives, often remembering the atrocities suffered by so many during war and deportation. It was not a day sanctioned by the Soviet Union, so visits were often made surreptitiously. At night, one could usually determine whether households were Estonian or Russian- speaking because All Souls candles burned only in the windows of the former. This deep- seated reverence for dead and for respecting and maintaining graves predates the Christian era.
http://www.estemb.org/estonia/holidays
St. Martin’s Day ( Mardipäev) (10 nov)
Celebrates the end of the agrarian year and the beginning of the winter period. It also often marks the end of the period of all souls. To celebrate this, people dressed up in costumes and went from family to family, singing and wishing good luck for the crops.
Children visit houses on St. Martin’s Eve, singing Martinmas songs and offering good luck for crops and households.
St. Catherine’s Day (Kadripäev) (25 nov)
Was a day for women, who dressed in costumes and walked from house to house wishing good luck for the crops. Nowadays, children are successfully keeping up the tradition.As the festival is accociated with a female saint, men dress up in women’s clothes, wearing light colors as a symbol of the coming snow .As women traditionally tended the sheep , many of the folk songs associated with this event offer good luck to folcks.
Kadripäev (25 October) and Mardipäev (10 November) are special days for boys and girls , respectively. Traditionally, they paint their faces, dress up in old clothes, and go around to neighbors’ houses singing national songs and knocking on doors, asking to be let in out of the cold . Once inside, they are supposed to be offered fruit and candy .
25 December Christmas Day
Estonians live in Jõulumaa? The Estonian word jõulud (Christmas) is of ancient Scandinavian origin and comes from the word Jul. In Scandinavia and Estonia Jesus Christ 's birthday is marked by the pre-Christian word Jul in Swedish, Norwegian , Danish, Jol in Icelandic, Joulu in Finnish and Yule on the British Isles. So we can say that like Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic and British people, Estonians live in Jõulumaa.
jõulud was celebrated in Estonia also before Christianity and for old Estonians it lasted for 17 days?Old Estonians celebrated winter solstice - the birthday of the Sun. Starting from winter solstice, the days grew longer and the sun rose higher in the sky. Jõulud was celebrated from St. Thomas 's Day (December 21) until Epiphany (January 6) long before Christianity reached the region. Jõulud, which involved excessive eating and prohibitions on several types of work, was seen as a period of rest in the middle of the long dark winter. Now Christmas is a mixture of the traditional, the modern, the secular, and the religious . Like in other Nordic states, Estonia's celebration of Christmas mostly falls on Christmas Eve, however, Christmas season starts from Advent with people buying Advent calendars or lighting Advent candles.
the first public Christmas tree was placed on Town Hall Square in Estonia, Tallinn already in 1441? The tradition of bringing Christmas tree home was spread to the countryside in the 19th century by the local Baltic-German population. The Christmas tree has always been an evergreen firtree, except for a few places , where because of lack of woods , pine was used instead. The first Christmas tree decorations were toys, sweets and later candles.
why on Christmas Eve, people had to eat for 7, 9, or even 12 times? These were magic numbers and the excessive eating would make sure that the next year would be rich in food. If men ate seven times during Christmas night, they were supposed to have the strength of seven men the following year.
why Christmas food had to remain on the table for the whole night? It was believed that ancestors and spirits would visit the
house on Christmas Night as well as on New Year's Eve
and Epiphany.
jõulud has always been a family holiday? Jõulud is considered to be silent time. In the old times, no guests were allowed to come on the first day of the holiday. Moreover, if the guest was a woman , it was seen as a bad omen . The same belief was about the New Year's Eve. For Christians , the 24 and 25 December was holy time - people stayed at home, read the Bible and sang chorales. Näärid, or the festive events of the turn of the year, were a joyous holiday in both traditions.
old Estonians brewed hundreds of litres of beer per household?Christmas was also called beer holidays and the beer or mead brewed on St. Thomas's day had to last until Epiphany. Brewing the ale was men's work, and it had to be started in the middle of the night so that an evil eye would not ruin the important act.
for 350 years, Christmas Peace has been declared in Estonia?Each year on December 24, the President of Estonia declares Christmas Peace and attends a Christmas service . The tradition was initiated by the order of Queen Kristina of Sweden in the 17th century.Traditional Estonian Christmas food is pork with sauerkraut or Estonian sauerkraut (mulgikapsad), baked potatoes and swedes with hog's head, white and blood sausage, and brawn, also potato salad with red beet and pāté are eaten. From desserts gingerbread and marzipan among others are very popular. The most highly regarded drinks during this holiday have been beer or mead, but today also mulled wine has become a popular drink.
If you wish to celebrate Christmas the Estonian way, try some traditional Estonian recipes.
http://www.vm.ee/estonia/kat_459/pea_174/2829.html