Estija

Shrove Tuesday / Vastapaev

1. On Shrove Tuesday everyone goes sledging and skiing.
2. The traditional food on that day is beans or peas soup with pig’s feet and cream-filled buns.

Easter

1. Easter has many other names connected with others aspects of this holiday. So it is known also as Spring Holiday, Eggs Holiday, Meat Holiday (it is related with Lent), the Resurrection and it is called Swing Holiday, because there is a custom of swinging. 
2. Many customs are related to Easter, but most of them have international character. 
3. Estonian singularity is swinging.

Juripaev 

1. In the traditional calendar it was the day which started many field works, it was the first day of cattle pasturage and the day when those who wanted, moved. 
2. Nowadays it is the anniversary of the insurrection from 1343, when Estonian tribes were fighting for their independence.

Midsummer Eve

1. Jaaniohtu is linked with lighting traditional bonfires. Those bonfires are linked with the idea of independence and freedom. 
2. A fire is lit by the Estonian President in the morning. 
3. From the fire which was lit by the President the flame of independence is carried across the country to light many bonfires. 
4. On Jaaniohtu, Estonians all around the country gather with their families, or at larger events, to celebrate this important day with singing and dancing.

St. John’s Day

1. Jaanipaev marks a change in the farming year, specifically the break between the completion of spring sowing and the hard work of summer hay-making. 
2. Some rituals of Jaanipaev have very strong folklore roots. 
3. The Jaanik ritual is the lighting of the bonfire and the jumping over it. This is seen as a way of guaranteeing prosperity and avoiding bad luck. 
4. Not to light the fire is to invite the destruction of your house by fire. 
5. The fire drives away evil spirits. 
6. The bigger the fire is, the further the mischievous spirits stay away.

Fisherman’s Day (in July)

1. The festival is celebrated in Fishermen’s villages. 
2. There is a tradition to bring Neptune to this festival. He makes a speech. 
3. On Fisherman’s day people play games or go to many concerts.

Martin’s Day (November 10th)

1. On Martin’s Day it is common to prepare some old traditional food. It is usually a roast chicken or a goose. 
2. Special bacon rolls called “piragi” are made. 
3. Martin’s Day signals the coming of winter. 
4. All gardens and field works must be finished.

Christmas

1. Christmas trees are decorated and children always wait for Old Man Christmas who gives presents. 
2. To get a present from him children must know at least one poem by heart. 
3. The whole family gathers together and spends this special night filled with magic together, talking about everything that has happened since last Christmas. 
4. Traditional food is pork with sauerkraut or Estonian sauerkraut (mulgikapsad), baked potatoes and Swedes with hog’s head, white and blood sausage, also potato salad with red beet and pate are eaten. For dessert, gingerbread and marzipan are very popular. The most highly regarded drinks have been beer or mead, but today also mulled wine has become a popular drink. 
5. There are many superstitions that come from ancient times. 
6. People on Christmas should eat 7, 9 or even 12 times. These are magic numbers and by excessive eating people make sure that the next year will be rich in food. If a man eats seven times during Christmas night, he is supposed to have the strength of seven men the following year. 
7. Christmas food should remain on the table for the whole night. It was believed that ancestors and spirits would visit the house on Christmas Night as well as on New Year’s Eve and Epiphany.