Posters on bus shelters proclaim: "The nation-wide opening event of Estonia's centenary is on April 16, 2017. The celebrations will kick off with a huge public hike in 18 different sections along the former border between the Eestimaa kubermang (Governorate of Estonia, in the north) and the Liivimaa kubermang (Governorate of Livonia, what is now southern Estonia and extending into what is now Latvia). Estonia's current territory was divided as such from the 16th century until 100 years ago this past week. Hiking en masse and symbolically erasing this border will bring out the contour of "Our land", as the first stage of the Estonia 100 celebrations has been named."

Details

Published: April 15 2017

Dear Fellow Estonians and friends of Estonia. The organizers of the 2017 West Coast Estonian Festival proudly announce that the Prime Minister of Estonia, Jüri Ratas has accepted our invitation and will be speaking at our opening ceremony on August 31, 2017.

Details

Published: April 15 2017

Ghent (Belgium), Lahti (Finland), Lisbon (Portugal), Oslo (Norway) and Tallinn (Estonia) are the five finalists shortlisted for the European Green Capital Award (EGCA) 2019.

Details

Published: April 15 2017

Rea Lest in November (2017)

Immerse yourself in 19^th century Estonian folklore – feel the mud and cold, the fear and joy of the peasants living sideby-side with cows, werewolves and kratts, the farmers’ helpers, created out of old tools, hay, and animal bones, and brought to life by the devil himself. 

Details

Published: April 15 2017

Gen. Einseln's funeral was held at St. John's Church in Tallinn on Friday, March 31, 2017. Photo: mil.ee

The funeral of Gen. Aleksander Einseln, the first chief of the Estonian Defence Forces following the restoration of Estonia's independence in 1991, was held in Tallinn on March 31.

Details

Published: April 13 2017

The Stanford University Libraries will be hosting the 2018 AABS Conference at Stanford University. The conference will celebrate two important milestones – the 50th anniversary of the founding of the AABS (the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies) and the 100th anniversary of independence for the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Details

Published: April 13 2017

From left: John P. Walters (Hudson Institute), Minister Linkevicius, Minister Mikser, Minister Rinkevics. Photo courtesy of the Joint Baltic American National Committee

All three Baltic Ministers of Foreign Affairs were in Washington recently for meetings with the Administration, Congress and think tanks. Estonian Minister Sven Mikser, along with colleagues Edgar Rinkēvičs from Latvia and Linas Linkevičius from Lithuania, held discussions with numerous officials on U.S.- Baltic relations and reaffirmed the Baltic nations’ strong partnerships with the U.S.

Details

Published: April 13 2017

Catkins (urvad) AND "cones" (käbid)?! Indeed. It's a LEPP, also known as an alder. Photo: Riina Kindlam

Pussy willows get all the attention in the spring. Cute and soft and perfect for putting in a vase. In Estonian, they're paju/tibud (willow chicks) or paju/kiisud (willow kitties). But what about that tree decked out in dangling catkins (urvad)? No, not the kask (birch) in the background, although they have urvad as well and the two species are related; they both belong to the birch family kaselised, which also includes the nut-bearing sarapuu (hazel).

Details

Published: April 13 2017