Estonia celebrates 108th anniversary of independence
The 108th anniversary of Estonian independence will be celebrated on Tuesday with events across the country and gatherings around the world.
In Tallinn, the day started with a public flag-raising ceremony at 7:32 a.m. at Tall Hermann Tower on Toompea, accompanied by the national anthem. Similar events took place in Narva, Tartu, Sillamäe and across Estonia.
President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar (Eesti 200) delivered a speech at the ceremony. Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma gave a blessing. Alex Palu Pukk, student of the Drama School of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and winner of Voldemar Panso Prize, read out the Estonian Declaration of Independence.
President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis, former President Kersti Kaljulaid, former President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, members of the Riigikogu and the Government, representatives of constitutional institutions and the diplomatic corps, the Estonian Flag Association and the leadership of the Defense Forces and the Defense League also attended the ceremony.
The united male choir of the Estonian Male Choir Association, and Tallinn Police Orchestra performed "Eesti lipp" ("Flag of Estonia", music by Enn Võrk, words by Martin Lipp; conductor Mariliis Kreintaal), "Hoia, Jumal, Eestit" ("God Save Estonia", music by Juhan Aavik, words by Aleksander Leopold Raudkepp; conductor Laine Randjärv), "Jää vabaks, Eesti meri" ("Stay Free, Estonian Sea!" by Viktor Konstantin Oxford; conductor Gustav Talmar), and "Kodumaa" ("Homeland", music by Raimond Kull, words by Mihkel Veske; conductor Riivo Jõgi).
The ceremony will end at around 8.05 a.m. and more information is available on the Riigikogu home page.
The flag-raising ceremony was broadcast live on ETV and ETV2 with sign language interpretation, as well as on ETV+ and Vikerraadio.
Practical information:
On the occasion of the holiday, the Women's Home Defence will serve tea, and the Reservists Fund will serve sprat sandwiches at Toompea.
To provide a better view of the festive event, screens will be placed on Falgi tee and in the Governor's Garden, from which the flag-raising ceremony can also be watched.
Toompea will be closed to traffic from 6.30 a.m., and more general traffic changes will begin in the city from 7 a.m. due to the Defence Forces parade.
--
Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!
Editor: Helen Wright
