Honouring our veterans - Estonian Veterans Day

Happy DNA Day!

The 25th of April is International DNA Day. Genealogy is very popular in Estonia and many Estonians have taken DNA tests to explore their ancestral roots and to connect with relatives. I took my autosomal DNA test in 2016 and have since made some fascinating discoveries. I have also tested my father's DNA for his maternal (mtDNA) and paternal (Y-DNA) lines. I've spend hours researching, trying to find the connection between the DNA matches. It's a very time consuming yet rewarding passtime. I thoroughly recommend it. Happy DNA Day!

Springtime in Estonia

With the arrival of spring I tend to think of flowers and increased periods of sunshine. Unfortunately spring is off to a bad start this year with snowfall not only taking place across Estonia but in other parts of Europe too. This photograph was taken last Friday in Simuna, Lääne-Viru County in northeastern Estonia.

Photo flashback: Tallinn's Härjapea River

Few people would remember it now but the narrow Härjapea River used to flow through the city of Tallinn. During the Middle Ages it was one of the most exploited rivers in Estonia. Eight watermills were built along the river and as industries grew, the river became increasingly polluted.

 

Härjapea jõgi

By the 19th century the Härjapea River was partially covered with planks to deal with the pollution issue. Then in 1930 the river was sealed completely. Today, only underground sewer pipes remain.

Estonia's emerging drone industry

The drone sector is rapidly developing in the European Union. Ten years from now the drone industry is estimated to make up 10% of the entire aviation market and by 2050 it will create over 150,000 new jobs. In Estonia there are currently 21 drone manufacturers including Milrem Robotics, Hepta, Clevon, Threod Systems, and Skycorp. It has been predicted that Estonia will become a market leader in the drone sector with the country on track to becoming one of the most prominent development and operating hubs in Europe.

Estonian-made drones have been dubbed by some as 'the new Estonian Nokia'.  The Estonian drone sector has every possibility to grow exponentially and greatly increase exports. Estonian-made drones have already made significant contributions to troops in Ukraine on various missions, including demining, route clearance, and re-supply.  

In February 2024 the Estonian Defense Force announced that a new drone training centre will be set up close to Nurmsi Airfield in Järva County. It is expected to be operational by the end of the year. The facility will be the only drone training centre of its kind in Estonia. The drone training centre will be available to the Estonian Defence Forces, the Estonian Defense League (Kaitseliit) and NATO allies and will include accommodation and lecture rooms as well as other facilities needed to support drone training.

The drone market will grow to 50 billion euros by 2026 and presents a fantastic opportunity for Estonia as a whole.

Estonian clown Julia Masli

If you enjoy a bit of comedy then you might be interested in the work of Julia Masli. Born in Tallinn in 1995 Masli is an award winning clown now based in London. Last year Masli won several awards at the Edinburgh Finge Festival and Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Julia Masli is currently in Australia performing her 'Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha' show.

 

 

It is interesting to note that Masli's boyfriend is Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn, winner of last year's  Britain's Got Talent. Masli and Venn have collaborated on several projects together that can be watched on YouTube.

 

April 14 is 'künnipäev' ploughing day in Estonia

According to the old Estonian folk calendar, April 14 is considered künnipäev / ploughing day. Traditionally on this day farmers wake up early as possible and start checking that all the farming equipment is in working order and ready for use. Then they would take a load of manure to the field and tend to the soil in hope of a good harvest.

Every year in Estonia there is an annual ploughing championship. The next one is scheduled to take place in September. There is also a World Ploughing Championship and this year it will be held in Tartu to mark the 150th anniversary of Estonia's first ploughing competition. More information about the event can be found here.

 

Estonian culture is awesome!

Estonia's famous heart-shape lake

Spring is a great time to head outdoors and enjoy some of Estonia's beautiful nature trails.  In Viljandi the trail at Lake Parika Väikejärv is famous for its heart-shaped bog lake. The trail runs through the forest and rises to the brink of the bog, where you can stop for a relaxing picnic or go for a rejuvenating swim in the bog lake. The circular trail goes around the lake, passing bog pools and places that are rich in berries. What a lovely way to spend the day!

The Black River Tavern Haaberst Manor

The oldest building in Mustjõgi was probably the tavern building, which was located along the Paldiski road dating back to the Middle Ages. The tavern site and farm was already called Swartle Bäck in 1585. The same name was found on a 1696 map. This work from 1836 provides a nice artist's impression of the tavern.

 

Paldiski maantee. Mustjõe kõrts. Haabersti mõis. Tallinn 1836.

Photo Flashback: Tallinn Old Town

In the 17th century this small modest stone house in Tallinn was built near the Church of the Holy Spirit for commercial purposes. The building consisted of a storeroom on the first floor and an attic warehouse. Over the years the building belonged to the wealthy mayors of Tallinn, the town pharmacist Johann Burchart and the guild of goldsmiths. Today it houses a quaint giftshop just off from the Town Square.

                                               Then and now. 1920s vs 1925 vs 2022.

Estonia among the top freest nations in the world

Estonia ranks fifth in the world in the Human Freedom Index 2023. Switzerland took the top spot followed by New Zealand, Denmark and Ireland. Estonia once again performed well in the rankings, maintaining its position in the top five.

The Human Freedom Index Report ranks 165 countries/territories, representing 98.8% of the world’s population, across a broad range of indicators (86 distinct indicators in 2023).

    Rule of law
    Security and safety
    Movement
    Religion
    Association, assembly, and civil society
    Expression and information
    Relationships
    Size of government
    Legal system and property rights
    Sound money
    Freedom to trade internationally
    Regulation

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the Easter holidays and indulging in a bit of chocolate. A new month begins tomorrow so it's time to start making new plans. A summer holiday in Estonia always sounds good to me. It's a destination that never disappoints!

20th anniversary of Estonia's NATO membership

Today, twenty years ago on the 29th of March 2004 Estonia officially joined NATO. This historic milestone transformed Estonia's security architecture and ensured the county would never be alone again. Estonia has always taken its NATO responsibility very seriously, consistently contributing at least 2% of its GDP to defence spending. Now that Finland and Sweden have joined NATO Estonia's security has been strengthened like never before.

Easter in Estonia

Historically Estonia was a Lutheran Christian nation but after World War Two that all changed. Today many Estonians identify as being spiritual, rather than religious and have a healthy respect for old ancient Pagan traditions.  In the Estonian folk calendar Easter is a spring holiday, a time for cleaning and preparing for summer. Good Friday is a day of rest and Easter Sunday is a day of celebration that includes a large meal, painting eggs and the traditional Easter egg hunt.

Estonians prefer to paint their eggs with natural dyes. The chart below shows you how to achieve some great colours.

A tradtional game Estonians play on Easter Sunday is 'egg knocking'. The rule to the game is easy, simply tap the end of your egg against your opponent's and the shell that doesn't crack is the winner!

Easter is known by many different names in Estonia: Ületõusmispüha (Resurrection), Lihavõtted (literally means meat-taking holiday, marking the end of Lent) and Munadepüha (egg holiday).

Estonians and their Neighbours

The Tartu 24 short film starring Ott Sepa and Märt Avandi reminded me of a few Estonian expressions regarding neighbours. Estonians typically like their space and don't mind isolation, therefore generally preferring a bit of distance between themselves and their neighbours. In fact, during the coronavirus pandemic there was a meme circulating poking fun at Estonians natural habit of keeping a safe distance from each other. The joke was 'finally the terrible two metre distance rule is over, we can now go back to our usual five metre distance.' All Estonians chuckled at that meme because it rang true!

There have been times when my neighbours have irked me making me wish they lived a little bit further away. The Estonian phrase 'hea kui naaber oleks selline, et mu aknast oleks vaevu näha nende korstna suitsu' has often come to mind. It's one of my favourite Estonian expressions.

 

While some neighbours like to engage in light-hearted banter, there are others who constantly try to outdo each other. Estonian novels such as Truth and Justice demonstrate some of the struggles and challenges faced with difficult neighbours. Setting boundaries and having a sturdy fence can often pave the way to a good relationship.

Remembering the victims of the March 1949 Soviet deportations

Today marks 75 years since the March deportations by the occupying Soviet regime. In March 1949, thousands of Estonians were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to uninhabitable parts of Siberia. The Soviets targeted whole families during the deportations. Many people perished during the journey and from the harsh new environment, never to see home again. In total, 20,702 people were deported from Estonia, of whom about 50% were women, 30% children and 20% men. All three Baltic countries were affected by the deportations, over 90,000 people in total. This horrendous crime against humanity will never be forgetton. It affected every family in Estonia.Today we light candles in memory of the victims.

Estonia among the top cleanest countries in Europe

The World Air Quality Report was released this week by IQAir and names Estonia, Finland and Iceland as the cleanest countries in Europe for fresh air and swimming. These three nations all take pride in their superior air quality and have great respect for nature. In Estonia there are several factors that naturally support clean air - half of the land area is covered by forest, the low population density and it's long coastline means seas breezes push pollutants away.

To learn more, please click here.

Estonia is AWESOME! Exploring 150 years of Estonian History

Old Estonian photographs

It's the weekend and a good time to browse through some old photographs. I enjoy looking at these old photos knowing my grandparents walked along these streets many years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Head Emakeelepäev!

March 14 is Mother Tongue Day in Estonia. It is celebrated on this day to mark the birthday of poet Kristjan Jaak Peterson who was one of the first writers to write in the Estonian language. Peterson gathered his Estonian poems into two small books but never saw them published during his lifetime. In 1822 Kristjan Jaak Peterson died from tuberculosis at the tender age of 21.

    Cannot the tongue of this land,
    In the wind of incantation,
    Rising up to the heavens,
    Seek eternity?

    - Kristian Jaak Peterson

Statue of Kristian Jaak Peterson on Toome Hill, Tartu.

Did Toompea look like this in the 17th century?

Could Toompea have looked something like this during the 17th century, before it was burned down? The cathedral was said to have been one of the few buildings that remained.  On social media there has been some scepticism regarding the accuracy of this depiction of Toompea, but I have to admit I rather like this image.

80 years since the Soviet bombing of Talllinn

On this day 80 years ago, the Soviet air force launched its large scale attack on Tallinn. In the March 9th bombings, Soviet saboteurs disabled Tallinn's water supply and over a thousand incendiary bombs were dropped on the city during the night. 1549 buildings were destroyed and 3350 were seriously damaged. According to official reports, 757 people died as a result of the bombings, 213 were severely injured, 446 people were lightly wounded and about 20,000 people were left homeless. 

Today we commemorate the victims of this horrendous attack.

Happy International Women's Day!

March 8 is International Women's Day. Today we acknowledge and give thanks to all the amazing women out there who've had a positive influence on our lives.  Women contribute a lot to society, and sometimes their work within the home can be taken for granted and not always fully appreciated. Today, women around the world should take pride in themselves and indulge in a few treats. I will buy some colourful flowers, eat my favourite chocolates/dessert and light some candles in the evening. Feel-good stuff!  (But I actaully do this most days!) Head Naistepäeva!

'The Secrets of Longevity' a new Estonian health book now available in English

Dr Priit Tammjarv from Tartu University Hospital and Peep Sooman have recently published a new health book that discusses the importance of good mental health, and how the lack of it, attracts illnesses and disease. “The Secrets of Longevity” concentrates on an extensive list of serious lifestyle diseases and the awareness to avoid them. The key to the secret of a healthier and a longer life is in creating a comprehensive mindset that includes a thought-through lifestyle, reducing risk behaviour and seeking a mental balance. The book is fluent, medically correct and gives the reader a great overview of every danger we may encounter in our lives, and how to skillfully avoid them.

 The Secrets of Longevity is now available for purchase on Amazon

100 Photos of Estonia - ilus!

Estonia now has 95 more islands but less coastline

A newly completed map of Estonia shows there are 95 more islands than previously thought, but the country is now four square kilometers smaller. The Land Board maps Estonia's coastline every eight years and the latest aerial images taken in 2020 revealed that the number of islands in territorial waters has risen from 2,222 islands to 2,317.

 

A new island mapped by the Estonian Land Board

The Estonian Land Board has stated that the shoreline of the Baltic Sea is constantly changing. The shoreline is affected by post-ice age land uplift, continuous coastal erosion and accretion processes, which are particularly intense with storms. The new official figure of Estonia's landmass is 45,335 square kilometres instead of the previously calculated figure of 45,227.

The new islands have yet to be named.

Historical documentary - Pitka legend

Johan Pitka was Estonia's first sea admiral. He was a man who stood with uncompromising confidence during pivotal events at the beginning of Estonian statehood; whether it was the formation of the Defence League, the armoured trains in the War of Independence or many other important events that required Pitka's own extraordinary courage. The life of one of the most exciting great figures in our history was as varied and outlandish as the man's character. "The Long Legend" brings to life the story of the first Estonian admiral, his era, struggles and dreams through staged scenes with renowned actors, animation and documentary footage. 

 

Estonian genealogist Fred Puss reveals many famous people have Estonian roots

Fred Puss, head of the Estonian Biographical Centre in Tartu was recently interviewed on the TV program Ringvaade. His discussed his research in which he found that politicans Boris Johnson, Ursula von der Leyen, Alexander Stubb and Franklin Delano Roosevelt all have Estonian ancestors. Many of Europe's Royal families also have links to Estonia.  The bloodlines of Britain's King Charles III, along with those of King Frederik X of Denmark, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Harald V of Norway can all be traced back to Estonia.

To read more about this story, please click here.

Estonia defeats Lithuania for the first time ever in men's basketball

Estonia made history in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers as they defeated Lithuania 65-59 to remain undefeated in Group H of the competition. Estonia had lost all eight previous match-ups against Lithuania, but the home game was spurred on by the local Tallinn crowd and victory was achieved.

The qualifiers will now take a break until November, when Estonia will next face Poland in an away game. Eurobasket 2025 is to take place August-September of next year.

There is no better colour combination than blue-black-white 'sinimustvalge'!

It was great to see national pride in abundance on Independence Day. Our beloved blue black and white Estonian flag and other Estonian symbols could be seen everywhere, not only in the streets of Estonia and within people's home, but all over social media too.  It was a joy to see all the different images people shared. Here are some of my favourites.

 

 

Republic of Estonia celebrates its 106th birthday!

Happy Independence Day my beloved Estonia! Palju õnne, armas Eesti!

Estonia - Inspiring and Beautiful Nature

Estonian Independence Day Quiz

Tomorrow is Estonian Independence Day and to mark the occasion I have created this quiz. I have always enjoyed quiz games and learning new facts - I hope you like it!

February 24 marks the106th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia

On Saturday, Estonians around the world will celebrate the 106th birthday of the Republic of Estonia. In Estonia celebrations will be held across the country with a wide variety of events. In Tallinn Independence Day celebrations will begin with the official flag raising ceremony at Toompea in the Governor's Garden at 7:34am. A reading of the Estonian Declaration of Independence will also take place. At noon the military parade will start on Tallinn's Freedom Square. The military parade will be presided over by President Karis and commanded by General Martin Herem, Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces.

If you are going to be in Tallinn for Independence day and looking for some interesting things to do, here are some events to consider.

Vabamu Museum will open at 8am. In addition to their permanent exhibition "Freedom Without Borders," visitors can explore the temporary exhibition "Out from Behind the Stove! 150 Years of Estonian Women's Movement History."  

Bank of Estonia Museum has a special Independence Day program. 

Family Day starts at 11am at the Estonian History Museum in Maarjamäe Castle.

Independence Day concert at the House of the Blackheads will start ar 1pm. Tallinn Chamber Choir perform.

Women's choir "Kaja" and Estonian Men's Choir perform at Kaja Cultural Centre at 3pm. 

There will be an Independence Day rave at Kinomaja that will start at 11pm.

Beautiful sunrise in Tallinn

The residents of Tallinn woke up to a beautiful pastel coloured sky yesterday. These photographs were taken just before sunrise at 7:48am. Tallinn is definitely one of the most photogenic places in the world!

5miinust and Puuluup to represent Estonia at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest

A new Estonian grammar book "Eesti grammatika" has been published

Estonian linguists have published a new improved Estonian language grammer book. The book contains more than a thousand pages and is for people who already have some knowledge about the grammatical structure of the Estonian language. The book brings together the different levels of the language in five main chapters. Pronunciation, word change, word formation as well as written and spoken language sentence teaching are covered.  It also has a separate phonetics and phonology section (not present in other grammer books), which deals with the smallest units that distinguish meaning in the structure of the language.

ERR News recently interviewed the linguists who created the book. You can watch it here.

Young Estonian writing competition: A letter to the deportee

The Institute of Estonian Memory and Postimees newspaper invite young people aged 15-21 to participate in the writing competition "A Letter to the Deportee" dedicated to the March Deportation Memorial Day. Works will be accepted until March 11. The prize for the best is a history trip in the Baltics.

The letter should be formatted as a personal appeal and no longer than 6000 characters (including spaces). It must be written in Estonian. The deadline for submission of works is 11.03.2024. Letters are  to be sent to the e-mail address; konkurss@mnemosyne.ee.

Further information can be found here

The first Estonian crossword puzzle was published 99 years ago

On the 9th of February 1925, the first Estonian language crossword puzzle was printed in the Esmaspäev newspaper. A prize of 3,000 marks was on offer to the first person who could solve it. Not all crossword prizes were monetary however, they also included books, trips, and clothes pins. Crossword puzzles remain popular to this day.

The world's first crossword puzzle was published on 21 December 1913 in the fun pages of the New York World Newspaper. It was invented by British journalist Arthur Wynne who emigrated to the United States in the late 1890's.