The Republic of Estonia
Hegi Soosaar, Liivi Heinla, Terje SanderBursa 2011
General info• 45 227 km2
• 1.3 m people
• Tallinn
• 15 counties, 202 rural municipalities, 39 towns
General info Habitation dates to 8000 BC Tacitus mentioned in 1st c AESTI International trade route Hanseatic League Borders with Russia and Latvia More than 1,500 islands Coastline 3,800 km Highest peaks 318 m 4th largest Lake (Peipsi) in Europe
Climate
Temperate, maritime Average temperature 5,6°C Max temperature 35,6°C Min temperature -43,5°C Average 121 rainy days Humidity 81% No climatic extremes Biggest hailstone 50mm
Anthem
• "Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm"• "My Fatherland, My
Happiness and Joy"
National Symbols
• barn swallow
• cornflower
• limestone
• Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic (101 members in the unicameral parliament) 1991 - United Nations • 2004 - European Union
and NATO
President : Toomas Hendrik Prime minister : Andrus Ansip Ilves
THE KEY DATESTHE KEY DATES
19181918 Republic of Estonia Republic of Estonia19391939 August 23- The Molotov–Ribbentrop August 23- The Molotov–Ribbentrop
Pact, Soviet occupation in June 1940Pact, Soviet occupation in June 19401988 1988 ‘Singing Revolution’‘Singing Revolution’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHX7bu-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHX7bu-
TWkTWk19911991 August 20 - re-establishment of the August 20 - re-establishment of the Republic of EstoniaRepublic of Estonia1992 1992 Republican Constitution Republican Constitution
Lennart Meri 1992 – 2001 (1929 – 2006)
Tallinn - capital
Tallinn – Old Town
Tartu – university town
Narva – border town
Pärnu – seaside resort
Rakvere Lääne-Viru County
Lahemaa National Park
Population Population and Language
• (2010)1,340,021• 68.8 % Estonian• 25.5 % Russian• 5.7 % other minority groups• Finno-Ugric language
Language• 1 official language- Estonian• not widely spoken outside of
the country• national pride in Estonia for
years, especially during Soviet occupation
• grammar rules and other standards-1600s
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
1 January: New Year2 February: Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty24 February: Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia14 March: Mother Tongue Day1 May: Spring Holiday2nd Sunday in May: Mothers' Day4 June: Estonian Flag Day14 June: Day of Mourning23 June: Victory Day24 June: St. John's Day 20 August: Restoration of Independence (1991)2nd Sunday in November: Fathers' Day25 December: Christmas Day
Estonian Kroon and Euro
At the beginning: June 1992 1 DEM=8 EEK Fluctuation of 3%Later: Pegged to Euro 1 EUR=15,6466 EEK Euro zone
Banking 1990s – commercial
banks Big Scandinavian
enterprises Double-edged
sword (profits go out, reliable banking system)
The Estonian tax system
1. Social tax 33%2. Personal income tax 21%3. Value added tax 20%4. Excise duties
The Estonian Song Festival
• 140-year-old tradition • Choirs
• 100 000 singers
and visitors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBcjNKN-bsM&feature=related
Dance Festivalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnfN5C3Dw3I&feature=related
• Folk-dance groups all over the country • every 4 years
Sport
• 2002 – W 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
• 2004 – S 1 silver, 2 bronze
• 2006 – W 3 gold • 2008 – S 1 gold , 1 silver
• 2010 – W 1 silver
Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
Andrus Veerpalu
Gerd Kanter
Jüri Jaanson, Tõnu Endrekson
Nikolai Novosjolov
Baruto
Music - Bedwetters
Arvo Pärt
Kerli
Tanel Padar & Dave Benton
Did you know?Skype by Estonians
Kaali meteorite crater
Tallinn – the culture capital of Europe 2011
Thank you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJM4_i8T_so
Carnival traditions in Estonia
Are there any?
Walpurgis Night
• Volbriöö (in Estonian)• During the night of 30 April• May 1 - "Spring Day"
• Spring festival• Arrival of spring
• Catholic Church - female saint Walburga• Influenced by the 15th and 16th century literature
• Wander the streets• Fantastic creatures:
witches, monsters, fairies
• Dancing, singing, thematic discos, sitting in the campfire light
St. Martin's Day• Mardipäev (In Estonian) • 10. November• Very important and loved holiday• Beginning of the winter period• Martin - bishop, soldier
• Young people, countryside• Children go door-to-door• Martinmas minstrel-beggar• Dark clothes, coats, false beards,
masks, animal costumes
• Wishing good luck for the household
• St. Martin's Day songs
• Dancing, riddles, game
• Gifts: food, money, sweets
• Similar to St. Catherine’s Day
St. Catherine's Day• 25 November
• The arrival of winter
• Importance • For centuries
Customs
• Kadrisants• Dressing up• From door to door - to
collect gifts• Return suitable songs,
blessings• Shearing, weaving -
forbidden• Sewing, knitting -
banned
Difference St. Martin's Day St. Catherine's Day
Men Women
Similarity• Mark the arrival of winter• Estonians - for ages• Still widely celebrated
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