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 Song Festival also saw a large increase in participants, with nearly 100,000 people in attendance.
I was in England last week and as I was reading the London Times I was pleased to find Tallinn featured in the travel section. As much as I love to see Estonia advertised as a travel destination, I am often disappointed when the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral is used to represent the city. This landmark is neither Estonian nor that old. The building was completed in 1900 and was scheduled to be demolished in 1929 after Estonia became independent. That plan was cancelled but there are discussions about its demolition or relocation again today.
So this poses the question, what image would be best used to represent Tallinn in travel articles?
Tallinn is a beautiful old medieval city that dates back to the 13th century. It's a former Hanseatic Port, and it was a significant one at that, with stunning gothic architecture that still exists today. Tallinn is a city rich in history and many of its buildings and structures have been carefully preserved for future generations to enjoy.
When I think of Tallinn, I think of medieval towers with their red tiled roofs, the Town Hall Square (Raekoja Plats) and the beautiful old buildings of the Old Town. If there were an image that encapsulates it all, it would have to be a cityscape view, where the towers and old buildings, church spires and view of the sea can all be seen. (I have yet to find the perfect photo).
On this day in 1910. the VII Estonian Song Festival began in Tallinn. The event took place over three days from 25th –27th June 1910. For the first time, a party was held without a dedication to an imperial anniversary. The party procession started from the seashore near Russalka, then moved on to Kadriorg. From there governor Korostovetsi gave a greeting to the tsar and the imperial anthem was sung. The procession then continued to the party square at the end of today's Laulupeo street. 10,100 singers took part in the Song Festival that year.
The ceremonial flame for the XXVIII Song and XXI Dance Festival "Iseoma" (Kinship) was lit in the park by the Estonian National Museum in Tartu on June 15 and is now on its way across the country. The torch, with its legendary flame, brings the spirit of the festival closer to everyone it passes during its journey to Tallinn. The torch will reach Tallinn on July 2 and the festival will take place from July 3-6. It's a celebration not to be missed!
I hope everyone had a great time celebrating Jaanipäev last night. It's truly wonderful when old Estonian traditions are kept alive in the modern world. Soon we will all be celebrating again during the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration. Nothing compares to this unique festival when Estonians from all around the world return to the homeland to take part. Our hearts will be full of national pride. Not long to go now!
Summer is finally here and there is no better place to visit than Estonia. Rich in history and culture with stunning nature, Estonia has an abundance of attractions. The only question is where to start. Here are some of the best places to visit in Estonia.
The Estonian Song Festival is just a few weeks away — that rare and powerful event, held every five years, when typically reserved Estonians are transformed into a vibrant collective of emotion. There is no greater outward expression of Estonians' love for their homeland than this festival. It is a time of great celebration, unity, and a deep sense of belonging.
115 years ago today, on 9th June 1906, Voldemar Lender became the first Estonian mayor of Tallinn. Previously, the mayors of Tallinn had either been Baltic Germans or Russians. Voldemar Lender was an engineer by profession who served as mayor for seven years until 1913 when Jaan Poska succeeded him.
Voldemar Lender was known as the 'mayor who built a city'. His construction company built many one-and two-story wooden houses with symmetrical facades in Tallinn. These buildings were known as 'Lender houses' and were popular from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, many of them still standing today.
Lender's wife, Elfriede Lender (née Meikov), was a teacher who founded the first Estonian-speaking girls' school in Estonia. They had four children who also went on to lead successful careers.
Tapa train station opened in 1870 and is an important junction station connecting the Tallinn–Narva (west–east) and Tallinn–Tartu–Valga (north–south) railway lines. During the period of rapid industralisation in Estonia a small town soon emerged next to the existing village in Tapa. Tapa has been known as both a railway and a military town throughout its history.
The oldest book in the Estonian National Archives Library belongs to the collection of books of the Estonian knighthood. The volumes of the Old Livonian Knighthood consists of two books and relates to law and procedures. They were printed in 1537 and 1539 respectively in the printing house of Michael Lotter in Magdeburg, Germany.
On 4 June 1884, the blue, black, and white flag was consecrated in Otepää as the symbol of the Estonian Students’ Association. The flag was designed in Tartu and later became the official national flag of Estonia in 1918. The tri-colour "sinimustvalge" (blue-black-white) flag is very symbolic in nature. Blue represents the sky, black represents the soil of our homeland and white symbolises purity and hope.
The original EÜS fraternity flag was handmade and still exists today. It is now on permanent display at the Estonian National Museum (ERM). Estonia is one of the few countries in the world that still possesses its original physical national flag. Head Eesti lipu päeva!
New data from Statistics Estonia has revealed that Estonia's average life expectancy has risen to 79.5 years. Officially, according to gender, that is 83.4 for women and 71.5 for men. Estonian men on average live disability-free for 56.8 years and women for 60.6 years. Women in Estonia typically live 8.3 years longer than men.
The data also reveals that educated people tend to live longer in Estonia. Higher education influences Estonians standard of living, which, then, has a significant impact on health and life expectancy. More information can be found here.
The People's Museum of Tallinn has opened a new exhibition called "Stories of a Young Capital: The Passionate Twenties," that explores the stories behind the formation of a young Estonian Republic, its people and its capital city.
In the 1920s, peace returned to Estonia following two wars, the collapse of the Russian Empire and the gaining of independence. Estonia experienced the start of a new era; it was a time of great change, innovation and Tallinn at that time was a city of sharp contrasts and high hopes.
Everyday life in the Estonian capital in the 1920s is brought to life in the exhibition through the stories of a dozen different characters, all of whom meet in the heart of the young capital.
Curated by Maaja Gundjajeva and Denis Jatsenko, "Stories of a Young Capital: The Passionate Twenties" will remain open at the People's Museum of Tallinn through to the end of 2026.
On 19 May 2025, Triin Seli from Tartu became the third Estonian woman to conquer the peak of the world's highest mountain. This is a fantastic achievement, one that requires true courage, determination and endurance. In total, nine Estonians have reached the summit, including Triin Seli's father Andras Kaasik, who climbed Mt. Everest in 2011. Congratulations!
The true Eurovision winner! Estonia is so proud!
The Stone Bridge that once stood over the Emajõgi river in Tartu was a significant part of Tartu's architectural landscape and stood for 157 years. The bridge was designed by J Carl Siegfrieden and built under the leadership of construction engineer Johann Zaklowsky. Building work took place between 1779–1784 and the bridge was officially opened to traffic on 16 September 1784.
Sadly, the Stone Bridge did not survive World War Two. The eastern side of the bridge was destroyed by retreating Soviet troops on the morning of 9 July 1941, while the surviving western bridge arch was destroyed by retreating German troops in 1944.
They may be tiny creatures but ticks can seriously impact on your health when left undetected. Ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis that can affect the nervous system, heart, joints, and even cause cognitive problems. Ticks are most active from spring to autumn and here is what you can do to protect yourself.
Wear long sleeves and pants when in nature (ideally white) Use tick repellents Always check your skin after a hike Ask your doctor about the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine
On the 22nd of May 1957 the Estonian Open Air Museum was founded in Rocca al Mares near Tallinn. The plot of land the museum was granted along the coast of Kopli Bay was orginally 66 hectares in size and has since been expanded to 72.22 ha. The Estonian Open Air Museum is a place of great cultural significance, showcasing authentic Estonian buildings from different periods and regions. The large forested area of the museum allows visitors to explore at their leisure and catch a vivid glimpse of Estonia's yesteryears. More information about this wonderful museum can be found here.
Estonian is generally considered a difficult language to learn, especially for native English speakers. Its complex grammar, particularly the 14 grammatical cases, and its non-Indo-European origins contribute to this difficulty. It typically takes 1,000 to 2,000 hours of study to go from complete beginner to fluent in a foreign language. But in regards to Estonian, it may take longer.
The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is over for another year, and like always the show was entertaining, suspenseful and full of surprises. Some countries ranked higher in the voting than expected, whilst others were left disappointed. Tommy Cash gave an excellent performance with his song "Espresso Macchiato"and it was a clear favourite with the public vote. Cash actually received more points in the televote than the Austrian winner JJ. Israel came second place in the competition, narrowly beating Tommy Cash by just one point.
One of the highlights of this year's show was undoubtedly the peformance by Baby Lasagna and Käärijä. The audience loved it!
Tommy Cash achieved Estonia’s second best ever result at the Eurovision Song Contest. Well done!
In 19th century Estonia, unwed mothers faced public shame, harsh judgment and exclusion. Their children were called "born of shame." A new study by Andreas Kalkun and Kersti Lust reveals the silenced truths found in Estonian folklore and court records.
How truly bitter was life for single mothers in the past? You can read the research paper here.
On this day, 777 years ago, the city of Tallinn was granted Lübeck Rights. This recognition marked Tallinn's acceptance into the Union of European Cities in 1248. To mark this anniversary, two major concerts will take place across the city. More information can be found here.
The first semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest took place in Basel last night. There were a few standout performances, namely San Marino and Sweden. Swedish band KAJ always gives an excellent perfornance and it wouldn't be surprising if they win the competition. Estonia's Tommy Cash made it through to the finals despite his performance not matching up to his Eesti Laul win. At Eurovision, Cash's "Espresso Macchiato" seemed rushed at times with weaker vocals. I would love to see Estonia win Eurovision this year but unless Tommy Cash can charm us the way he did at Eesti Laul, I fear it might not happen. We might yet again see another Swedish win.
Today millions of women around the world are celebrating Mother's Day. It's a day we show our love and appreciation for all the wonderful things our mothers have done for us. Sadly, I lost my mother five years ago, so Mother's Day is not quite the same for me, but I am thinking of her. My mother always loved to wear colourful scarves and sing around the house. Such precious memories! Head emadepäeva ema!
The below map show the different words Europeans have for the word 'mother.' Of course 'ema' is the best! So unlike anyone else!
On this day in 1950, the Schuman Declaration laid the foundation for a united Europe built on shared values and collaboration. Today we celebrate freedom in Europe and also think of those who are still fighting for it. 75 years ago European integration began and today Europe is stronger together now than ever before.
Today marks 80 years since World War Two ended in Europe. While most Europeans mark this day as a day of celebration, it is not the case for Estonia. May 1945 did not bring liberation for Estonia, instead it marked the beginning of a long and painful Soviet occupation that lasted fifty-one years. During this time, Estonians were deported to Siberia and human rights, language, culture, economy and freedom of speech were all brutally violated. The Soviet Union was not a liberator; it was an occupier.
In Estonia, World War II officially ended with the restoration of independence in 1991 and the final withdrawal of Russian troops in 1994.
Rehearsals are currently underway for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest that is set to take place in Basel, Switzerland next week. Estonia's entry 'Espresso Macchiato' by Tommy Cash has grown in popularity in recent months and is a clear standout. This highly amusing song takes all the best-loved clichés of Italian culture and compacts them into a catchy three minute tune.
Estonian curling duo Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill have secured a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics Games due to take place in Italy next February. This is the first time an Estonian team has qualified for the curling event. The duo have also earned themselves a playoff spot in the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships that will take place in Canada later this month.
Estonia has achieved it's highest ever ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index that was recently published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). With a score of 89.46, Estonia is second behind world leader Norway. Estonia's relatively low levels of political and commercial interference, digital innovation and public trust has enabled the country to steadily climb the rankings.This is a fantastic result for Estonia who continues to go from strength to strength in so many important areas of society. Further reading can be found here.
Today, 21 years ago, Estonia became a member of the European Union. This historic event changed the lives of all Estonians, giving us security and economic freedom to travel, study and work across the EU. Since joining the European Union, Estonia has proven to be a reliable partner, sharing core EU principles and has a say in the big decisions that affect Estonia, Europe and the world.
Estonia's success within the EU is multifaceted; encompassing rapid economic growth, successful adoption of the euro, and integration into the Schengen area. These achievements are rooted in Estonia's strong commitment to a free market economy, efficient bureaucracy, and embrace of digitalisation.
30 years ago today, on 29th April 1995, the first McDonald's Restaurant opened in Estonia. It was opened in Tallinn's Viru street near the Viru gates at Viru Street 24. McDonald's uses part of the first floor of the building which was originally a hotel called "Hotel Europa".
Not everyone is pleased that a McDonald's restaurant is located in the Old Town but whenever I walk past it, it is always well patronised.
For the first time in history, the Economist Democracy Index has ranked Estonia as a “full democracy”. Estonia was upgraded from 'flawed democracy' along with Portugal and the Czech Republic in the new ranking. Overall, the global Democracy Index score has fallen from 5.52 in 2006 to an historic low of 5.17 in 2024. More than one-third (39.2%) of the world's population currently live under authoritarian rule. Sixty countries are now classified as “authoritarian regimes”
This painting by Ernst Hermann Schlichting is titled 'Vaade Tallinnale Narva maanteel' (view of Tallinn from Narva highway). It depict the Song Festival Hill at Lasnamägi.
