Easter in Estonia: old traditions and new beginnings

Did you know Easter in Estonia is known by four different names? One is "egg holiday" — dyed eggs are the star of the show.

Easter celebrations in Estonia tap into old traditions to mark the changing seasons.

Holy Week preparations

In the Estonian Folk Calendar, Kevadepüha or Spring Holiday, marks the week leading up to Easter.

This week was used to complete household chores, such as cleaning after a long winter. The weather during this week could predict the weather for the summer. If it was raining, a wet summer was to follow, and if there was fog, a hot summer was in store.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

Maundy Thursday was considered a partial holiday in preparation for Good Friday. Lighter meals, like soup, were consumed. The type of soup eaten varied by region, but everyone rested on Good Friday. It was a rare occasion for anyone to leave their house that day.

Source: Näljane nelik

Sledding and sweet buns: Shrovetide in Estonia

This centuries-old holiday marking the weeks leading up to Lent involves sliding down hills and feasting on buns piled high with whipped cream.

Source: Rea Kõiv, Visit Tallinn

"Good Friday is such an important holiday that even the ant doesn't leave his nest, nor does the leaf fall from the tree."

— Estonian Folk Calendar

Source: Hans Markus Antson

Look to the sky during Easter break.

The weather during Kevadepüha is said to predict the weather for the upcoming summer.

Sunday celebrations

Easter

Easter is referred to by four different names in Estonian:

ületõusmispüha (Resurrection)
lihavõtted (literally meaning meat-taking holiday, marking the end of Lent)
munadepüha (egg holiday)
kiigepühad (swing holiday, referring to the tradition of swinging on the large wooden village swing on Easter Sunday)

What do Estonians do on Easter Sunday?

Easter Sunday in Estonia is usually celebrated with a long lunch, egg dyeing, and an old-fashioned Easter egg hunt.

It's common to decorate your own eggs. Typically, the eggs are painted with natural dyes like onion skins or beetroot juice and then put in a basket as a centerpiece for the table. Eggs are also incorporated into meals, usually as egg butter or spread to eat with Estonia's famous black bread.

Although many store-bought dyes may be easier to use, the tradition of using natural dyes is still very common today. According to the Estonian Folk Calendar, the colors had meaning: pink for gentle, green for hope, blue for fidelity, yellow for falsehoods, and grey for balance. Girls would let the boys choose an Easter egg, and depending on which they chose, the girls would then be able to judge their personalities.

Source: Elina Kask

More Easter traditions in Estonia

Having real eggs on the table is crucial for the after-meal egg-knocking competition. The rules are simple: tap the end of your egg against your opponent's, and the shell that doesn't crack is the winner!

Many Easter customs still practiced today (like egg knocking) come from old folk traditions. Egg rolling, mostly practiced in Setomaa, has the same principle as egg knocking — you aim to crack your opponent's egg. You roll your egg down a pile of sand and try to hit other eggs. How intricately you make your ramp is completely up to you. The person whose egg remains intact wins!

This was usually the day when eggs were exchanged or given as gifts. Young people would meet at the nearby village swing, and girls would give the Easter eggs they decorated to the boys as a thank you for building the swing they would spend their afternoon on.

Source: Mart Vares

When is Easter?

Easter is a Christian holiday with roots in pagan springtime celebrations. The date changes every year according to the church calendar. It marks the end of Lent in remembrance of Jesus's 40-day fast in the desert.

In the Western church tradition, Easter is always celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. For Eastern Orthodox communities, Easter falls between April 4 and May 8, as they follow the Julian calendar.

In 2025, both churches celebrate Easter on the same day: April 20.

Where to find local celebrations

Easter customs and springtime traditions varied — and up to a point still do — throughout different regions of Estonia. Many Estonians continue to celebrate Easter, even if they are not religious. However, it is primarily a family celebration, though there are a few places where you can experience an authentic Estonian Easter.

The Estonian Open Air Museum in Tallinn celebrates some of the older Easter traditions every year.
You can also visit Setomaa in Southern Estonia to participate in the egg rolling contest and learn more about their traditions.