Holidays and folk festivals in Estonia

You probably already know about Christmas, but what about Kadripäev or Vastlapäev? Read on to learn more about traditional Estonian holidays.

Hillary Millán

English language writer and editor for Visit Estonia

Estonian holidays mark important dates in the church calendar and celebrate the changing seasons.

Like Santa Claus at Christmas and dyed eggs at Easter, some holiday traditions are similar to those found elsewhere in the Western world. Other traditions, like egg rolling at Easter in Setomaa, or heading to the forest to search for the "fern blossom" on Midsummer, feel more uniquely Estonian.

Of course, with the movement of people and the shifting of borders, it can be hard to pin down exactly where certain traditions started. Even so, the following holidays are important expressions of Estonian culture. And if you truly want to celebrate like a local, make time for a sauna session the night before any major holiday!

Winter and spring holidays in Estonia

Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated in the cold!

Despite Estonia's reputation as one of the least religious countries in Europe, the timing of Shrove Tuesday (Vastlapäev in Estonian) and Easter, 40 days later, is decided according to the church calendar. Shrove Tuesday marks the day before the beginning of the Lenten season, which historically has been a time of sacrifice and reflection. It is a day for indulgence, though Estonians have stretched it out for a few weeks — fluffy, sweet cream-filled buns known as vastlakuklid appear in bakeries as early as the end of January.

Ancient Estonians, like most Europeans who lived off the land, celebrated the spring equinox as a time of rebirth. Once Christianity arrived, pre-Christian rituals were still practiced alongside religious Easter celebrations. One tradition that is still going strong in modern Estonia is the dying of eggs, especially with natural dyes like beetroot and onion skins.

Boys sledding during winter holidays in Estonia

Photo author: Silver Tõnisson, Visit Viljandi

Spring holidays in Estonia mark the season of new beginnings.

Locals celebrate with sweet treats like cream buns and pasha.

Summer solstice celebrations

...except they're held two days later!

Winter in Estonia is dark, so when the longest day of the year finally arrives, it is given the fete it deserves. Like in other Nordic countries, a large bonfire is the star of the show. Friends and family gather to party until dawn, even though the night barely has the chance to turn black before the sun rises at about four in the morning.

Midsummer holidays were celebrated in Estonia long before the arrival of Christianity. Afterwards, they melded with the feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24th, which is why it's called Jaanipäev in Estonian. But for Estonians, the holiday was given even more significance during the War of Independence. This holiday also marks the day the Estonians defeated the Germans — June 23rd, 1919. Now, both days are national holidays in Estonia, and the 23rd begins with a military parade and ends with parties and bonfires.

Bonfire during a traditional Midsummer holiday event in Viljandi

Photo author: Hillary Millán

Summer holidays are a joyful way to let loose after a long winter.

The extra hours of daylight mean Midsummer is celebrated into the wee hours of the morning.

Marking the end of the growing season

When the veil between this world and the next thins

There are three main traditional autumn holidays in Estonia: Mardipäev, Kadripäev, and Hingedepäev. All three have certain rituals — like dressing up and going from house to house in the village or leaving out food for the dead — to ensure the protection of livestock and good luck for the following year's harvest.

Hingedepäev is the Estonian version of All Souls' Day, celebrated on November 2nd; Mardipäev (Martinmas) is on November 10th, and Kadripäev (St. Catherine's Day) is on November 25th. Nowadays, Estonia is no longer the agricultural society it once was, and the traditions surrounding these three holidays are not as widely practiced.

However, if you see candles lit in a graveyard or happen to come across a group of children dressed in white going door to door, then you just might have been lucky enough to catch a local autumn celebration. Even if you don't get a chance to see one of these celebrations, there are still plenty of activities to keep you busy during Estonia's black nights.

Autumn apples feature in many of the season's holiday foods in Estonia

Photo author: Silver Tõnisson, Visit Viljandi

Autumn's main holidays are related to the harvest or remembering the dead.

It's also the beginning of the darkest season of the year.

Christmas celebrations in Estonia

A season of light during the year's darkest days

Many Christmas traditions in Estonia may seem familiar, like a Santa Claus dressed in red or trees decorated with lights and glittery baubles. However, there is one particular tradition that is practiced by all Estonians, young and old: when you meet Santa, you must recite a poem, sing, or dance before receiving your gift. So you may want to brush up on your Christmas carols or a few lines of a holiday poem if you plan on celebrating Christmas in Tallinn!