Events

In Estonian folk calendar St. Catherine’s Day marks the beginning of indoor activities. Women as well as men dressed in beautiful white clothes, with their cheeks painted red with beetroot go trick-or-treating, i.e. collecting gifts in return for songs and blessings. At the Estonian Open Air Museum you can get ready for St. Catherine’s Day: prepare masks, get to know about traditions and taste St. Catherine’s Day dishes.

For one month an ancient fairy-tale with long-forgotten mythological characters is going to come alive at the Estonian Open Air Museum. Come and take part in an exciting walk to the mystical world. Only in selected evenings, the audience will gain a supernatural power to glance through closed doors and covered windows to find characters invisible to the naked eye bustling around and disappearing when the rooster crows for the third time.

Christmas-related beliefs have changed throughout history – pagan customs have become mixed with Christian ones, old folk traditions with new Western customs. At different times, people have either expected the spirits of their ancestors to return home, performed rites which were believed to bring luck, told the story of the birth of Jesus or, eagerly anticipated the visits of Santa Claus and Christmas elves. In the Christmas Village of the Estonian Open Air Museum, visitors get to know the Christmas beliefs of families from different eras.

St Canute’s Day on January 13 ends the Christmas period. Until then one continues with the holiday celebrations – it is a perfect time to pay visits, enjoy traditional Christmas dishes and call up relatives. Take some time to visit Härjapea, Sepa and Seto farms, the Peipus-Russian dwelling, Kuie schoolhouse and Lau village shop to make the most of the long holidays.

Majority of the Slavs and Orthodox Setos celebrate Christmas according to the Old (Julian) Calendar on January 6 and 7. The whole Christmas season – svjatki – lasts until January 19, the Epiphany. During this time people don’t work but rejoice at the birth of the Christ and go announcing this important event to their neighbours as well. Come and join us for the celebrations.

Candlemas divides the winter in half and starts the cycle of women’s spring holidays. It was believed that candles cast on that day burn with the brightest flame. Candles from mutton fat and beeswax are made and Candlemas dishes are cooked on the farms. Kolu Inn offers red drink to assure rosy cheeks for the whole year.

Shrovetide is a merry holiday in the heart of winter, which is enjoyed by kids and grownups alike. A long sledge ride down the hill is a must for everyone to ensure good flax growth in the summer and wealth for the household. A proper Shrovetide always goes together with hearty pea soup, fluffy buns and spinning tops.

The builders from a successful kolkhoz building association in Southern Estonia celebrate their work anniversary, and thus have invited ladies from the Norma tin product factory in Tallinn to have a lively winter friendship party. Besides dancing to older and more modern disco beats from the 1960s – 1980s there will be performances by both parties and relay races arranged by the local organiser of cultural activities. The bar serves food and drinks.

Maslenitsa marks a holiday in the Orthodox Calendar celebrated during the last week before the 40-day Lent. It is accompanied by dancing and merrymaking, hearty meals and having fun in the snow. Throughout the week pancakes with different fillings are cooked at the Peipus-Russian dwelling. The culmination of the week is a Maslenitsa party held on February 29 where you can acquaint yourself with Shrovetide customs of different nationalities, play funny games, tell fortune and take part in trials of strength. The winter is sent away and spring welcomed by burning a ritual straw doll in the bonfire. Don’t miss the blinis, cookies, barankas and the samovar tea.

Easter was popularly known as the ‘Egg holidays’, ‘Resurrection holidays’, ‘Swing holidays’ or ‘Spring holidays’. The Lent that had lasted since Shrove Tuesday would now come to an end and the folk would start eating meat again. However, this was not the case everywhere in Estonia. At the same time when the majority of people rejoice in the awakening of nature and the Resurrection of Jesus, tap Easter eggs and play holiday games, the Russian Old Believers and the Orthodox still obey the strict 40-day Lenten fast. Come and find out about the Easter and Lent traditions of different nationalities living in Estonia.

Throughout history, Midsummer’s Eve has been one of the most important and joyful holidays for Estonians. This is the time when the nature is at its most potent, and thousands of bonfires are lit all over the country to celebrate the onset of the summer and attract good luck. Midsummer bonfires have always been lit in Estonian villages regardless of the weather or political system.