Estonian history

Remembering the once vibrant Jewish community of Estonia

On the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, the victims of Nazi atrocities are also remembered in Estonia. We look back at the history of the once vibrant Jewish community in Estonia.* Prior to the Second World War, Estonia had a small but flourishing Jewish community. There

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Estonia commemorates the Baltic Chain – the longest unbroken human chain in history

At 19:00 on 23 August 1989, approximately two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined hands, forming a human chain from Tallinn through Riga to Vilnius, spanning 600 kilometres, or 430 miles. It was a peaceful protest against illegal Soviet occupation, and also one of the earliest and longest unbroken human chains in history.* Prelude to the

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Estonia celebrates the restoration of independence

On 20 August 1991, Estonia declared formal independence during the Soviet military coup attempt in Moscow, reconstituting the pre-1940 state. In the evening of 20 August 1991, Estonian politicians declared the nation’s independence – even as Soviet tanks were rolling through the countryside to quell the independence movement and the Soviet paratroopers were taking charge of the Tallinn TV Tower, preparing to

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Estonian beliefs and rituals continued by jaanipäev

Along with Christmas, jaaniõhtu (Midsummer Eve – 23 June) and jaanipäev (Midsummer Day, St John’s Day – 24 June) are the most important holidays in the Estonian calendar – people all over the country will gather with their families, or at larger events to celebrate with singing, dancing and lighting the bonfires, as Estonians have done for

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Lennart Meri, the president many loved, and everybody respected

On 29 March 2024, the former president and foreign minister, Lennart Meri, would’ve celebrated his 95th birthday; a Statesman with a capital S, he’s one of the founding fathers of the Estonian post-occupation success story, and one of the politicians in Estonia that everybody truly respected.* My best friend celebrates his birthday on 29 March,

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