Estonian culture in the world
Arvo Pärt, one of the most performed living composers in the world, turned 85 on 11 September 2020; to celebrate the occasion, a special documentary telling the story of the maestro’s diaries was produced. The TV programme, produced in collaboration with the Estonian Public Broadcasting for the composer’s birthday, tells …
Louis Kahn was an internationally known architect who designed striking public buildings that combined modernism with the monolithic majesty of ancient monuments; in 2021, celebrations in his honour are taking place around the world, from New York City to his childhood home of Saaremaa, Estonia. This is an edited version …
World-famous and with Estonian roots: the architect Louis Kahn was born on this day Read More »
British-Estonian movie “Firebird”, a debut feature by Estonian director Peeter Rebane, will premiere at the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival in March. “Firebird” tells a love story set at the height of the Cold War, where a troubled soldier (Tom Prior) forms a forbidden love triangle with a daring …
British-Estonian movie “Firebird” to premiere at the London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival Read More »
Abja-Paluoja, the capital of Estonia’s historic Mulgimaa region, has become the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2021; Adam Rang, who is currently writing a book about Estonian sauna culture and its origins among Finno-Ugric peoples, attended the ceremony and reports on why it matters. It had all the grandeur, if not …
Mulgimaa takes centre stage as Estonia embraces its Finno-Ugric family Read More »
Known in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Canada as “Pancake Tuesday”, Estonians celebrate Shrove Tuesday or Vastlapäev instead – and tons of buns with whipped cream are consumed.* As elsewhere, this movable festival is determined by Easter and originates from the Christian calendar. The expression “Shrove Tuesday” comes from the …
Estonians celebrate Shrove Tuesday by eating whipped cream buns Read More »
The Museum of Estonians Abroad, together with the Estonian Writers’ Union and the Estonian Literature Center, is holding a competition to find new translators of fiction from Estonian into English. Participation is open to people of all ages provided they have not previously made public any translated books. This competition …
The Museum of Estonians Abroad is looking for translators of fiction Read More »
The renowned Estonian poet, philosopher and culture critic, Jaan Kaplinski, celebrates his 80th birthday on 22 January. Kaplinski, who in 2016 was named the Laureate of the European Literature Prize (Prix Européen de Littérature) and in the same year, was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, has been a major …
Estonian author and Nobel prize nominee Jaan Kaplinski turns 80 Read More »
Kristel Kont talked to Estonian writers Vahur Afanasjev and Justin Petrone about writing at the time of the coronavirus pandemic and the shifts they are observing in literature and society. Vahur Afanasjev is an Estonian writer and poet who became a household name in the Estonian literary scene with his …
A museum of forbidden literature has opened in the Old Town of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia; the aim of the museum is to present banned, burned or censored books to the general public from different parts of the world. “In the museum, books from different parts of the world …
As it is 24 December and Christmas Eve (the day Estonians celebrate Christmas, unlike the Anglo-Saxons who celebrate it on 25 December), Estonian World is bringing you ten Estonian Christmas songs for your enjoyment or background music. Liis Lemsalu – Sel ööl on tunne (This Night Has A Feeling) Beyond …
