As of the 1st of January 2024, there are 1,374,687 people living in Estonia. The natural increase was negative (-5,053 people), but the net migration was positive (+13,856 people). Estonia's population grew by 8,803 people last year. The chart below shows a breakdown of the figures.
Once again the northern lights have made a stunning display of colour across Estonia. The recent solar storm has enabled the aurora borealis to be seen in parts of the world where it's not usually visable. Here are some images recently been taken in Estonia. Beautiful!
Mothers give us so much in life and today we show them our appreciation. Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there! You deserve to be spoilt today!
Many country flags find their inspiration in nature. The Estonian landscape during winter often reminds us of our beloved national flag and warms our hearts whenever we see it appear naturally. It is the same for several other countries. Here are a few from the Baltic and Nordic region of Europe.
The arrival of spring brings with it new energy and inspiration for creative work. Today, to mark Europe Day, I have made these salt candle holders in the colours of the Estonian flag. They are so easy and fun to make. Simply fill a jar with salt, divide into portions then add food colouring to create the desired colour. For the finishing touch, add a tea light on top. You can get really creative making these candle holders by experimenting with different colours, shades and layers.
A new book has been published containing a collection of childhood stories from Estonian children who were born in Sibera following the Soviet deportations that took place during the 1940s. The book was compiled and published by the NGO "Siberis sündinud laste" ("Children born in Sibera"), which was founded two years ago and now has 200 members.
The book features recollections from 84 Estonians of their childhood in Siberia. One of the book's authors is Virve Tuubel, who is also a methodologist at the ERM's Education Centre. Tuubel said that through the stories we can learn a lot about how people perceived the place where they were born and the living conditions they experienced as children.
In one story, a child describes his home, "that dirt floor, that one room. A lot of different kinds of people lived there together, but there were also rats, mice, cockroaches, lice, fleas, and mosquitoes in summer. And, he says that when he and his mother returned to Estonia, they were not very welcome here. We lived here and there," says Tuubel.
The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö, Sweden this week. The number of songs will be signficantly less compared to previous years with only 37 performances set to take the stage. Estonia's entry 5MIINUST x Puuluup is actually a double act, two bands who came together to create the hit song (Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi, that won Eesti Laul eariler this year.
(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi, which translates as “We (really) don’t know anything about (these) drugs” is a collaboration between nu-folk act Puuluup, who are famous for their skills on the Talharpa, a rare wooden lyre from northern Europe and 5MIINUST, a hip-hop group. The upbeat song delivers humorous lyrics about a drug bust. (Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi has the longest song title in the history of the competition.
5MIINUST x Puuluup are scheduled to perform in the second semi-final on May 9. Good luck!
Storks are migratory birds who like to spend their winters in the warmth of Africa then usually make an appearance in Estonia by the end of April. Storks can often be seen throughout the Estonian countryside enjoying the country's open landscapes in sparsely populated areas. White storks have long been associated with good luck in Estonia. In old Estonian folklore it is believed that if a family find a stork's nest on their property it will bring them harmony. Another ancient belief is if a newlywed couple tie a ribbon around a tree or pole supporting a stork's nest, they will have a good life together. Storks generally are a symbol of peace and they usually bring delight when spotted in nature.
The first Miss Estonia beauty pageant took place in 1923 and was arranged by Estonia Film who were looking for a new actress. The first competition was won by Sinaida Tamm. In 1931 Lilly Silberg became Miss Estonia and went on to represent Estonia at the Miss Europe competition. Lilly was born in Tallinn in 1906, her father Jaan Silberg was a distiller from Männiku Manor and her mother was born in Kurna Manor, Jüri parish.
Lilly Silberg was called the brightest pre-war Miss Europe contestant, who knew not only how to enjoy her beauty, but also how to benefit from it. Even though Lilly was 25 years old at the time of the Miss Europe competition, she knew how to act like a real lady and thanks to that she was successful on the international arena.
In 1931 the Miss Europe contest took place in Paris and Lilly Silberg was awarded second place. After the competition Silberg decided to remain in Paris and worked for Jean Patou's fashion house. A year later her sister Ellen Silberg joined her in Paris and they both modelled for Jean Patou. Patou was considered a pinoeer of women's fashion, a revolutionary who liberated the female figure.
In 1938 Lilly Silberg married chemical engineer Dick Brizzard and quit her job at the fashion house. The couple didn't have any children. During World War Two, Dick Brizzard was a fighter pilot and his plane was shot down by the Germans. Brizzard survived, but his spine was injured and he spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Lilly took care of him until his death in 1963. After losing her husband Lilly went to live with her sister in Marseilles. She had a villa there where she loved to spend her summers. Lilly Silberg-Brizzard died on the 14th of October 1969 in Marseilles.
Estonian curling pair Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill have won silver at the World Curling Championship that took place yesterday in Östersund, Sweden. They were defeated by Swedish siblings Rasmus and Isabella Wrana. This is the first time Estonia has won a World Mixed Doubles medal title in the adult competition. Another great result for Estonia!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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!
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
