There is an old Estonian saying 'Eesti Piir Käib Vastu Hiina Müüri'. It literally translates as 'Estonia's border goes against the Chinese wall' or in other words, the Estonian border should go all the way to the Great Wall of China. This was a patriotic song sung by Estonian soldiers during Soviet times. I can see how it was popular at the time.
One of the most mystical places in Tallinn's Old Town is located in the basement of the former Dominican monastery. The monastery was established in 1246 and is one of oldest well-preserved buildings in Estonia. An art gallery is now housed inside the monastery. It is located near the Viru Gate at 33 Müürivahe Street. Exhibitions change regularly.
One of the first libraries in Tallinn was located inside the Dominican monastery. In addition to viewing the old library, visitors can also see the old sacristy, vestry, and dormitories used by the monks and leaders of the city.
There were originally three inner chambers inside the monastery but only the eastern chamber has been preserved. The dormitory, library, dining room and other rooms provide a fascinating opportunity to take a peek into the life of medieval monks. A mysterious "energy column" is located in the basement. According the legend it can be a source of physical and mental well-being.
More information can be found here.
There is something alluring about black and white photography. Perhaps it's the mood or emotion the image generates, or the feeling of timelessness. The below photographs may have been taken a month ago or fifty years ago. It is not apparent.
On Estonian Literature Day, the Tallinn Literature Centre and Vikerradio invited people to vote for the most Estonian folk character. Kaval-Ants won the competition, closely followed by Rehepapp.
It is always very chilly in Estonia during the month of Febraury. The last time I was in Tallinn during February was for the Independence Day celebrations in 2018. I remember that Saturday, it was bitterly cold outside, the temperature ranged from -12 to -20 °C that day.
Jõgeva is the coldest place in Estonia. The lowest ever temperature in Estonia (-43.5*C) was recorded here in 1940. A monument to cold weather has been erected on the Piibe Road on the outskirts of Jõgeva.
104 years ago today the Tartu Peace Treaty was signed. This ended the Estonian War of Freedom and saw Soviet Russia officially recognise the independence of the Republic of Estonia.
Estonia's peace treaty with Russia was the first international act that mentioned the right of peoples to decide their own destiny. Elagu Eesti!
The Estonian Song Festival is one of the largest choral events in the world. Held every five years in July at Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds, over 30,000 singers come together to take part in the event. The next song festival was originally scheduled to take place in 2024 but it was was postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has been an impatient wait for many but applications are now open for those who want to participate in this wonderful event.
The Estonian Song Festival is held simultaneously with the Estonian Dance Festival. The four day event is a time of great celebration, unity and national pride. Estonians from all over the world return to the homeland to attend the festivals and it's also a time for emotional family reunions.
More information about the Estonian Song Festival can be found on the Laulupidu website.