It is currently the largest and longest Estonian Independence Day celebration event which is entirely funded by the Government of Estonia.

With the collapse of the Russian Empire in World War I, Russia's provisional government granted national autonomy to a unified Estonia in April.

After the withdrawal of German troops in November 1918, the Estonian provisional government retook office.

A military invasion by Red Army followed a few days later, however, marking the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920).

The terms of the treaty stated that Russia renounced in perpetuity all rights to the territory of Estonia.