estonia overview

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