Estonian etiquette: What is considered good manners?

Every country has their social norms of what is considered acceptable behaviour and what actions are frowned upon. In Estonia, there are certain things you must be aware of to earn the respect of locals. Etiquette in Estonia centres around respect for personal space, silence and punctuality. If you do something objectionable in the presence of an Estonian they will rarely tell you to your face, instead, they will quietly step away and avoid you. There is a golden rule in Estonian culture when it comes to social etiquette - "mitte tüütata", which means "do not bother" or "do not be burdensome." It represents respect for personal space, privacy, and silence.

Estonians are known to be reserved, self-sufficient and private people who live by the rule of "mitte tüütata". Estonians do not like to burden others or have other people encroach unnecessarily upon their time, energy or space. When it comes to asking others for help or assistance, Estonians are very reluctant to do so, and its usually only done as a last resort. So with this in mind, here are ten things you need to be aware of when it comes to Estonian etiquette.

1.  Respect personal space. Do not stand too close to others in lines, queues or crowds. Stand at least an arm's length away, ideally further. Never sit close to someone on public transport when there are plenty  of seats available. It's not uncommon for an Estonian to get up and change seats if you do.

2. Don't speak loudly in public. Estonians are private people who value quietness, personal space, and emotional restraint. Speaking loudly in public is seen as rude, disrespectful, and attention-seeking. It is greatly frowned upon. 

3.  Embrace silence. Silence is golden in Estonia because it is a sign of respect and sincerity.  Estonians don't like to engage in small talk and when there is a pause in conversation, Estonians don't feel uncomfortable about this. Instead they will be thinking carefully about what the other person has said before adding to the conversation, if at all. 

4. Do not touch others during conversation unless you are close friends.  

5. Be quiet on public transport. It is greatly frowned upon in Estonia to speak loudly on a bus, tram or train.  It is viewed as disruptive and rude. Talk only loud enough for the person next to you to hear. No one else wants to hear your conversation.

6. Always be punctual.  This cannot be overstated. Punctuality is a cornerstone of respect in Estonia. If you agree to meet someone at 7pm, the expectation is that you are there, no later than 7pm. It is very normal in Estonia for people to arrive, 5, 10 or 15 minutes earlier than the appointed time. Arriving even five minutes late can be seen as disrespectful, implying that you don't value the other person's time. 

 7.  Estonians value direct communication. When meeting someone offer a firm, brief handshake and make direct eye contact. When speaking be clear, honest, and direct. Do not use confusing, sugar-coated language to avoid conflict. Be sincere.

8. Always remove your shoes when entering an Estonian home. Never assume you can walk straight in.

9.  If you are invited to an Estonian's home always bring a small gift. Never arrive empty-handed. Usually a bottle of wine, chocolates or flowers are warmly welcomed. When it comes to flowers always give a bouquet with an odd number as even numbers are only for funerals.

10. When dining in an Estonians home, do not eat until the host begins or someone says "head isu" (bon appetit). 

Volume IV of Truth and Justice available in English

The fourth volume of Anton Hansen Tammsaare's classic Estonian pentalogy Truth and Justice (Tõde ja õigus) is now available in English. Entitled 'Karin', the fourth installment once again follows the life of Indrek Paas who is now an intellectual and lawyer living in Tallinn. Set in newly independent Estonia, Karin is a psychological drama about marriage, betrayal, social aspiration and competing emotional needs.  

Tammsaare famously described the first volume of Truth and Justice as man's struggle with the land. By contrast, he defined Volume IV as a struggle with oneself and the happiness of one's life. It highlights how people's complex emotional needs (love, pride, and truth) clash with societal expectations.

Volume IV of Truth and Justice was translated by Matthew Hyde and published by Vagabond Voices.  The English translation of the fifth and final volume of Tõde ja õigus will be available later this year.  You can buy a copy of Karin here

5 Interesting Facts about the Estonian Island of Ruhnu

Ruhnu is a small remote Estonian island located in the Gulf of Riga. It is famous for its extreme isolation, with a tiny year-round population of less than 100 people. For centuries the island was populated by ethnic Swedes and traditional Swedish law was applied. Up until 1944, the island was entirely Swedish-speaking but its population fled to Sweden during World War Two to escape Soviet occupation. 

Today, Ruhnu is a beautiful tranquil island with untouched nature, quiet beaches, and a close-knit, self-sufficient community. It is the prefect place to visit for a unique getaway.

Here are five interesting facts about Ruhnu. 

1. The island has two churches standing side-by-side. Ruhnu is home to a unique architectural anomaly where two distinct churches stand just metres apart. St. Magdalena's Church was built in 1643. It is the oldest wooden building still standing in Estonia.  The newer stone church was built right next to it in 1912.

2. The French Lighthouse. Rumour has it that before creating his architectural masterpiece in Paris, Gustave Eiffel designed a lighthouse for Ruhnu. This cannot be confirmed, however, it is true that the red metal cylindrical tower was made in the Le Havre plant in France and was erected on Haubjerre Hill in 1877. The height of the lighthouse is 39.5 metres and it stands 65 metres above sea level. The French lighthouse is the only lighthouse of its kind in the Baltic region.

 

3. Singing Sand. Ruhnu's singing sand is a unique acoustic phenomenon found on the island's beautiful Limo Beach. When you walk or slide your hand across the dry quartz sand, the friction makes the grains vibrate and emit a high-pitched, musical squeak or whistling sound. 

4. In 2006, the island had a surprise visitor when a 150 kg brown bear travelled across the freezing waters on a block of ice from mainland Latvia. The bear became a media sensation and for months tourists outnumbered locals on the island hoping to catch a glimpse of the bear. It evaded capture hiding in the forest for months before eventually disappearing, presumably returning to Latvia. In 2007, to mark the event, Latvian chocolate company Laima gifted the people of Ruhnu a 40 kg chocolate bear.

5. Ruhnu is 11.9 square kilometres and has only one settlement making it impossible to get lost on the island. There are two ways to get there, either a three hour ferry trip from Pärnu or flying on board a small 8-seater airplane. 

Photo flashback 1930

People from Lepiku village playing volleyball near the Tindi farm house in the 1930s.

New silver coin dedicated to Anne Vabarna to be released next year

In 2025 the Bank of Estonia launched a new coin series dedicated to Outstanding Estonian Women who have had a major influence on the development of society. The series began with Lilli Suburg (1841–1923), who one of the first people in Estonia to publicly speak in favour of equal rights for women. Today it was announced that Seto singer Anne Vabarna will join Suburg in the collection. Anne Vabarna was one of the most prominent Seto folk singers, whose work is an important part of Estonia's spiritual heritage. The silver collector coin is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Anne Vabarna.

Anne Vabarna 1877 - 1964

 

The silver commemorative coin will have a nominal value of 15 euros and 2500 will be minted. The coins will be issued in 2027. More information can be found here.

Escape the heat and head to Estonia this summer!

The heatwave currently gripping most of Western and Central Europe has once again highlighted the region's lack of infrastructure when it comes to air conditioning and cooling. Temperatures have been above 30°C in many parts of Europe this week, causing many people to rethink their travel plans. While tourists love to flock to the Mediterranean Coast for a summer holiday, the crowds and heat are less appealing to many this year.  For a cooler summertime destination, Estonia may be the answer.  Estonia is a phenomenal summer destination because it offers the perfect "coolcation" escape. You get to experience pleasant temperatures rarely above 25°C, stunningly long "White Nights" (up to 19+ hours of daylight), and diverse landscapes from sandy beaches, dense forests, and pristine nature reserves, all without the massive tourist crowds of Southern Europe. Estonia is definitely the place to be this summer!

Estonian War of Independence animated video

Yesterday was Victory Day in Estonia. Victory Day is an Estonian national holiday that was first celebrated in 1934 and commemorates the victory at the Battle of Vonnu in 1919, which marked a turning point in the Estonian War of Independence. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Victory Day also celebrates all Estonian forces who fight to retain the country's independence. 

The Estonian War of Independence (1918-1920) took place in the aftermath World War One. This animated video details how Independence was finally achieved for Estonia.