GingerbreadMania (PiparkoogiMaania) began in 2006 by a group of talented artists. The must-see exhibition is held during the Christmas season in Tallinn and showcases some amazing works. Each year GingerbreadMania has a different theme, this year the exhibition has been named 'Fashion'.
Thursday, 26 November 2020
Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Christmas has begun in Tallinn
The Christmas season has officially begun in Tallinn with the placing of the Christmas tree on Town Hall Square last Friday. Sadly many of us won't be able to visit Tallinn this Christmas due to the coronavirus pandemic but at least we can be kept up-to-date online. This year, due to the pandemic, the Tallinn Christmas market will be configured a bit differently, more spread out throughout the Old Town.
Estonia was the first country in the world to have a public Christmas tree. It's a tradition that dates back to 1441 when the Brotherhood of Black Heads put a Christmas tree up on Tallinn Town Hall Square. An official document found in the city archives dated 1441 reveals that the city council paid for musicians to play music by the tree on 25th December. Now the tradition of having a public Christmas tree in city centres can be seen all over the world!
Wednesday, 18 November 2020
AUTUMN IN TARTU ESTONIA
The coronavirus has temporarily halted international travel to Estonia. If you are not able to visit Tartu at the moment then perhaps take a virtual walk via this video. Get inspired for the days to come!
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
New book by Endel Uiga - 'Where the Light Comes From: One Hundred Years Looking Back'
Endel Ulga is an Estonian currently living in New Jersey in the United States. He was born on March 3, 1918, just days after Estonia declared its independence from Russia. In his memoir, he describes the idyllic life of a curious and ingenious child with great promise for a successful future while a roiling undercurrent of unrest pervaded eastern Europe. Endel and his country came of age together, before their destinies diverged during World War II.
About the authors.
The 184 page biography was published in August and is now available in paperback and kindle.
Thursday, 12 November 2020
Sunday, 8 November 2020
Happy Father's Day!
Father's Day in celebrated on the second Sunday of November in Estonia. To mark the occasion, Statistics Estonia released some interesting facts.
* There are 304,800 fathers and 132,000 grandfathers in Estonia.
* Estonian fathers are 53 years of age on average, while the average grandfather is 66.
* 37.7% of fathers in Estonia have only one child, 41.7% have two, 15% have three and 3.8% have four. The remaining 1.8% of fathers have five or more children.
* There are eighty-eight fathers in Estonia with ten or more children.
* The most popular baby names for 2020 are Robin, Martin, Oliver, Rasmus, Mia, Emily, Lenna and Sofia.
Friday, 6 November 2020
Estonian Railway Celebrates 150th Birthday!
The first railway was opened in Estonia on the 5th of November 1870 and ran the Paldiski-Tallinn-Narva-Gatchina route. In the same year, the new railway was connected to the St. Petersburg-Warsaw railway. The train network revolutionised travel in the region. It boosted trade and economic growth, improved infrastructure and created new settlements. Palju õnne Eesti Raudtee!
Tallinn Railway station group photo 1871
One of the first train engineers in Estonia was my great-great-grandfather Carl Woldemar Becker (1845-1890). He was born in Kadriorg and married my great-great-grandmother Julie Louise Jorik in Tallinn in 1879. I am very proud that my family is part of Estonian history.
Archive marriage record.
The Becker family in Tallinn 1900.
Sadly I don't have a photo of Carl Becker.
Eesti Post has released this commemorative stamp.