Culture of Estonia
The Soviet invasion of Estonia during World War II prompted a repression of free speech, opinion and culture in general.
The Soviet era was characterized by a large circulation of books and their cheap price, but a rather small number of different titles.
After the end of the Soviet rule in 1991, the literature in modern Estonia is in a healthy state, with detective stories in particular enjoying a boom in popularity.
[3] The earliest mentioning of Estonian singing and dancing dates back to Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum (c.
The Estonian Song Festival, held every five years since 1869, is now one of the largest choral events in the world and a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
[6] Estonia today is well respected for its musicianship, with the quality education of classical musicians having produced a high proportion of world-class conductors and singers.
In addition, artists such as Hortus Musicus, Kerli, Vaiko Eplik & Eliit, Iiris, NOËP, Miljardid and Trad.Attack!
[7] The Theatre of Estonia dates back to 1784, when August von Kotzebue founded an amateur theater company in Tallinn.
Lydia Koidula's The Cousin from Saaremaa in 1870, staged by the Vanemuine society, marks the birth of native Estonian theater.
Plays by Western writers such as Henrik Ibsen, Gerhart Hauptmann, Russian Maksim Gorky, and Estonians August Kitzberg, Oskar Luts and Eduard Vilde were staged.
[13] The first Estonian documentary was created by Johannes Pääsuke in 1912, followed by the short film Karujaht Pärnumaal (Bear Hunt in Pärnumaa) in 1914.
Theodor Luts, Noored kotkad (Young Eagles) (1927) is generally regarded as the cornerstone of Estonian cinema.
[8] In the 1960s, the story of Prince Gabriel, by Estonian writer Eduard Bornhöhe, was turned into a movie script by Arvo Valton.
Worth mentioning is especially the architectural ensemble that makes out the medieval old town of Tallinn, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
[citation needed] The history of formal education in Estonia dates back to the 13th to 14th centuries, when the first monastic and cathedral schools were founded.
The area of modern Estonia has historically been inhabited by the same people as today, mostly speakers of Estonian, but some minorities, such as Russians, have immigrated more recently.
Some pagan aspects of culture, such as storytelling traditions, have survived to modern times, and are generally more popular in South Estonia.
[17] Today, Estonian society encourages equality and liberalism, with popular commitment to the ideals of the welfare state, discouraging disparity of wealth and division into social classes.
The Protestant work ethic remains a significant cultural staple, regardless of its decline during the Soviet Union era, and free education is a highly prized institution.
Until the first half of the 20th century, Estonia was an agrarian society, but in modern times, Estonians have increasingly embraced an urban lifestyle.
Nonetheless, many Estonians maintain a fondness for a rural lifestyle close to nature, and it is a common custom to visit a summer cottage in the countryside during vacations.
Notable among these is Jaanipäev, the Estonian Midsummer, which involves seeking one's way to non-urban environments, burning large bonfires ("jaanituli"), and participating in the drunken revelry of jaaniõhtu.
The most typical foods in Estonia are black bread, herring, pork, potatoes, sour cream and other milk-derived products.
The symbolism of the border or meeting of east and west in Estonia was well illustrated on the reverse side of the 5 krooni note.
Additionally, the foreign trade minister of Finland, Alexander Stubb, has been quoted saying that Estonia is a "Distinct Nordic country".
