On Monday of this week (February 24, 2025), I was fortunate to attend Estonian Independence Day celebrations in the capital city of Tallinn. The Estonian Republic turns 107 this year, although the Estonian culture dates back hundreds of years. Estonians are a proud people despite the fact that other many nations have occupied what is now Estonia. Much like today, Estonia is caught between invaders from the East (Russia) and the West (Germany) and is also heavily influenced by Finnish culture.
The celebration on Monday included a flag raising ceremony as the sun rose at Tall Hermann Tower. We attended an outdoor reception held at Freedom Square that featured a speech by the President of Estonia along with a military parade. The parade was something I’ve never experienced and included military bands, several units from the Estonian Defense forces as well as military representation from several NATO members including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. British, French, and American tanks and other military hardware were featured in the parade under both the NATO flag and under the flag of each individual country.
As in the United States, there are also many traditions associated with Estonian Independence Day. Most of these involve herring. The most common tradition is Baltic herring fillets on black bread, usually topped with slices of hard-boiled egg. Other Independence Day foods include forest mushrooms, potato salad and deviled eggs. Celebrations are often topped off with vastlakuklid, a traditional dish that includes buns topped with whipped cream. This is also associated with Shrove Tuesday and is very common this time of year in the many cafes and bakeries that dot the city.
The celebration of Estonian independence on February 24 is not celebrating independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. That anniversary is in the fall. What Estonians celebrated this week was the first time they gained independence from Russia. Unfortunately, independence only lasted a day. As World War I was coming to an end, Russian forces were being pushed out of eastern Europe and had withdrawn from Estonian territory in mid-February. Unfortunately for Estonians, the day after declaring independence from Russia, German soldiers pushed East through Estonia, following after the withdrawing Bolsheviks, and at the same time, occupying the newly declared independent Estonia.
By November of 1918, as Germany was losing the war, the German installed puppet-government collapsed and Estonia re-established its claim of independence. While Russian forces tried to retake Estonia as Germany retreated, the Estonian War of Independence followed, and Estonian nationals were able to push back the Red Army. In 1920, a treaty between the Republic of Estonia and the Russian SFSR established Estonia as an independent state.
Unfortunately, the Soviet Union returned to Estonia in 1939 when it threatened invasion and destruction unless Estonia allowed the Soviets to establish military bases in country. Despite Estonia acquiescing to Soviet demands, a year later, the Soviet army invaded Estonia, quickly gaining control over the government. It remained in control of Estonia until the fall of the Soviet Union.
This history has created a lot of tension between Estonia and Russia. It is complicated by that fact that nearly 1/3rd of the population Speak Russian as their mother tongue. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has led to the Estonian government welcoming over 60,000 Ukrainian refugees who now live in Estonia. This only adds to the tension. After living in Estonia for a month, I appreciate both what America has to offer, and the challenges of trying to welcome strangers who are truly desperate as they seek out protection from invading forces. I appreciate the need to be welcoming of the other while also expecting those seeking to live in the United States or any other country to follow the rules and do so legally. America and Americans should appreciate what we have and continue to support those around the world who believe in the ideals of freedom and liberty, and the individual pursuit of happiness. We should welcome those in true distress and support legal efforts to provide assistance so they can also pursue their own happiness.