Estonia's national flower is the blue cornflower
“Esthonia” had for centuries existed only as a far-flung province in somebody else’s empire. The land that encompasses today’s Estonia has at various times been included on the official maps of Denmark, the Livonian Order, Sweden, and Russia. But never, from the early 13th century to the early 20th century, was Estonia its own nation.
On a cold winter’s day in 1918, however, Estonians declared that the time for independence had arrived.
The idea of nationhood had begun to gather steam in the late 19th century. And on 19 Feb 1918, amidst the turmoil of the First World War, a “manifesto” of independence was approved by Estonia’s Provisional National Council. Five days later, on Sunday, the 24th of February, 1918, it was proclaimed to the world.
24 February 1919: Estonia celebrates the first anniversary of its Declaration of Independence
Estonia’s independence lasted until World War II, at which point it was interrupted by nearly a half century of Soviet occupation. Independence was regained in August 1991, but the Republic of Estonia officially commemorates its independence on the date, 92 years ago, that the bold manifesto was issued in Reval (as the capital Tallinn was then known).
Click the link to read the 1918 New York Times article reporting the proclamation of Estonia’s independence manifesto: Reval would now be free
You can listen to the rousing cadences of Estonian national anthem here, and read more about Estonian Independence Day here.
Happy Birthday, Estonia!
Estonia is often depicted as a place of quirky and tech-savvy coolness and the country has, for the most part, earned its hip reputation. But as fun as it may be to write or blog about the country’s cheap booze, pretty women, ever-expanding wireless hotspots, wife-carrying domination, etc., we shouldn’t forget that Estonia’s experience for much of the 20th century was pretty rotten.
