Did you know?
TALLINN
The capital of Estonia is approximately at the latitude of 60 Degrees North — like Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg. However, due to recent climate change, some summers have had weeks at a stretch of temperatures around +30˚C. Yachting on Tallinn Bay can be a truly Mediterranean experience.
LANGUAGE
Estonia’s official language is Estonian, which belongs to the Finno-Ugrian family of languages, thus being one of the few languages in Europe that is not Indo-European. Russian, English and Finnish are also widely understood and spoken.
SILENCE IS GOLD
Talking is silver and silence is gold. Knowing the proverb, a foreigner should never be taken aback by long silences in a conversation with an Estonian partner. Monosyllabic answers to multilayered philosophical questions are also a cultural peculiarity.
BEER INDEX
Not only is the beer (Saku, A. Le Coq/Viru) a terrific drink, it is also attractively priced.
BLACK PUDDING
Estonians are proud of their delicious black pudding, which is actually as good as the black pudding eaten in the northern part of England and Scotland. The latter is only a bit spicier.
KAMA
The food behind this mysterious, godly and sexy name is very similar to what you can buy at Tesco, Sainsbury or Waitrose supermarkets — Danone Activia Yogurt with cereal.
RELIGION
The largest denomination is Lutheran (30%), followed by Russian Orthodox (28%) and Catholic (3%). However, only about 20% of Estonians practice any religion. Many churches are popular due to good concerts given there.
MOST IMPORTANT DAYS
Midsummer Eve (jaanilaupäev) and St John’s Day (jaanipäev) are the most important days in the calendar. Jaanipäev is celebrated during the night between 23 and 24 June, a few days after the summer solstice, while night seems to be non-existent. Bonfires are lit all over the country.
BALLET’S FAIRY-TALE COUPLE
Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur, ballet’s fairy-tale couple, were elegant figureheads for the English National Ballet for almost 20 years. Edur is now the artistic director of the National Opera Ballet of Estonia.
THE COMPOSER
Arvo Pärt is the best known Estonian composer in the world. Björk has interviewed Pärt for the BBC program “Modern Minimalists” — it is a real treat enjoyable on YouTube!
AMAZING HOUSE MUSEUM
Probably the only person from Estonia whose memory has been honoured in a house museum in London is Dora Gordine. The controversial artist died in 1991, leaving behind remarkable sculptures. Dorich House, designed by Gordine, is in Kingston Vale.
USEFUL LINKS
Estonian Embassy