Saturday, 19 July 2025

70 years of Estonian television

Today marks seventy years since television was first introduced in Estonia. On the 19th of July 1955,  at 7:30pm Eesti Televisioon launched its first programme. The official TV show was broadcast from a Tallinn television station set up in Tallinn Radio House. At first the show was on Saturdays and Sundays then later airtime was extended to other days of the week. Today, the Estonian free-to-air television channel still operates and is commonly known as ETV.

Friday, 18 July 2025

Estonia is one of the coldest places on earth

Estonia is a beautiful country to visit all year round but if you dislike cold weather, it's best to avoid a trip during February. It's Estonia's coldest month. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Estonia is -43.5°C (-46°F). This record was set in Jõgeva on January 17, 1940.



Sunday, 13 July 2025

Enterprising Estonian students create new edible birthday candles

Three students from Põlva High School have placed fourth at the Gen-E 2025 Festival held earlier this month in Greece. Isabella Puusepp, Agathe Ojasaar and Eliisa Villako impressed both the jury and audience at the European Junior Achievement Competition with their innovative edible candle design.

First inspired by traditional candles melting all over the birthday cake of one of the founders' twin siblings, the edible candles are made of chocolate and already on sale at a few locations in and around Põlva and Võru. The girls now plan to formally register their business 'Blouit' and expand sales across the country. You can read more about Blouit and the Gen-E 2025 Festival here

Edible birthday candles by Blouit

Isabella Puusepp, Agathe Ojasaar and Eliisa Villako 

Friday, 11 July 2025

Ta lendab mesipuu poole - XXVIII Laulupidu "Iseoma" (2025)

Several songs were performed twice during the Estonia Song Festival. Juhan Liiv's 'Ta lendab mesipuu poole (he flies to the beehive) was one of them. So many Estonians came back to the homeland to take part in the XXVIII laulupidu. Many people experienced the song festival for the first time, including 80 year old Esta from the United States. Her parents were Estonians who fled the country during WWII and it was her dream to always visit Estonia. This finally eventuated when her son bought her a ticket to Estonia for her birthday. It was Esta's first time visiting her ancestral homeland. The Estonian Song Festival is a beautiful display of Estonian unity and it was wonderful to see so many Estonians come together to celebrate.
    
 
 

Wednesday, 9 July 2025

XXVIII Song and XXI Dance Festival "Iseoma"

Tens of thousands of Estonians from across the world gathered in Tallinn last weekend to take part in the Estonian Song and Dance Festival. Despite the rain, nothing could dampen the Estonian spirit, it shone bright for all to see. The Estonian Song and Dance Festival is undoubtedly one of the most magical cultural events in the world. Estonian unity at its best!

 
 

Saturday, 5 July 2025

Estonians beam with national pride this weekend

One of the most wonderful aspects of the Estonian Song and Dance Festival is to see expats return to the homeland to take part in the celebrations. Some of these people are second and third generation Estonians and the festival is just as important to them as their forebears.

Friday, 4 July 2025

Tantsupidu"ISEOMA" 2025

Tallinn is the place to be this weekend!

The Estonian Song and Dance Festival started yesterday and what an amazing weekend it is going to be.  It's truly wonderful see the Estonian national costume (rahvariided) worn with such pride. The beautiful colours and patterns reveal the different regions where Estonians come from. 

This weekend will be a time of great celebration, unity and national pride for Estonians. People from all around the world have made their way back to the homeland to take part in the festival. It will be a weekend we will never forget!

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Photo flashback: 1938 Song Festival Procession

The 11th Estonian Song Festival was held in 1938. It was the last song festival before World War II and the Soviet occupation. This festival was notable as it was the first time Gustav Ernesaks conducted the choirs and his music was performed. 

 
The 11th Estonian Song Festival also saw a large increase in participants. 
Nearly 100,000 people were in attendance.