World Stroll
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Family roots

Discover your Estonian roots

A small, green northern country of forests, bogs and more than two thousand islands, with a medieval capital, a famous love of choral singing and some of the most digital public services in the world.

Estonia is the northernmost of the three Baltic states. It sits on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, with the Gulf of Finland to the north, Latvia to the south and Russia to the east, where the border runs through the wide Lake Peipus. The land is low and flat, with an average height of only about 50 metres. Forests cover about half of the country, bogs and mires almost a quarter, and off the west coast lie the large islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa among more than two thousand smaller ones.

People have lived here since at least 9000 BC. In the 13th century crusaders from Denmark and Germany conquered the land, and for the next seven centuries it was ruled in turn by German knights, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and the Russian Empire, while Tallinn and Tartu grew rich as Hanseatic trading towns. A national awakening in the 19th century, carried by newspapers, poetry and song festivals, led to the declaration of independence on 24 February 1918.

Questions to ask the older generation

Memories fade faster than photos. Ask these over a meal or a phone call, and write the answers down.

  1. Which town or region of Estonia did our family come from? Was it near Tartu, Narva, Pärnu?
  2. Who was the first in the family to leave Estonia, when, and why?
  3. Which dishes from Estonia were cooked at home? Did anyone make Mulgi porridge or Mulgi sauerkraut?
  4. Does anyone in the family still speak Estonian, or use a few words of it?
  5. Were there songs, prayers, games or holidays from Estonia that the family kept?
  6. Are there old photos, letters or documents from Estonia? Who has them?
  7. If you could visit Estonia together, where would you go first?

A short history of Estonia

Estonia's story runs from Stone Age hunters on the Pärnu river, through crusades, Hanseatic trade and centuries of Danish, German, Swedish and Russian rule, to a national awakening in song, two declarations of independence and a peaceful return to freedom in 1991.

  1. 9000 BC

    First settlers at Pulli

    About 11,000 years ago, after the ice of the last glacial era had melted, people settled at Pulli on the banks of the Pärnu river in south-west Estonia. It is the oldest known settlement in the country.

  2. 1227

    Saaremaa is the last to fall

    After years of raids and revolts, the island county of Saaremaa surrendered to the crusaders, the last Estonian county to do so. The land was divided between Denmark, the German knights and bishops.

  3. 1343

    St George's Night Uprising

    On St George's Night, 23 April 1343, Estonians in the north, and later on the islands, rose up against their foreign rulers. The rebellion was crushed by 1345, and in 1346 the Danish king sold his Estonian lands to the Teutonic Order.

  4. 1632

    University of Tartu founded

    King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden signed the founding act of a university in Tartu, then called Dorpat. It is still the country's oldest and best-known university.

  5. 1918

    Independence declared

    On 24 February 1918, between the retreat of the Russian troops and the arrival of the German army, the Salvation Committee declared the independent Republic of Estonia. The day is still the national holiday.

  6. 1940

    Soviet occupation

    Following the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union occupied Estonia in June 1940 and annexed it in August. Occupation, war and deportations followed, and Estonia lost about a quarter of its population in the Second World War.

  7. 1991

    Independence restored

    During the failed coup in Moscow, Estonia declared the restoration of its independence on 20 August 1991, crowning the 'Singing Revolution'. It joined the United Nations the following month.

  8. 2011

    The euro arrives

    On 1 January 2011 Estonia adopted the euro, replacing the kroon and becoming the 17th member of the eurozone.

Family recipes to cook together

MulgipuderMulgi porridge 1 h 15 min · serves 4MulgikapsadMulgi sauerkraut 2 h · serves 4Sprat sandwichSprat sandwich 20 min · serves 4KamaKama 10 min · serves 4KringelKringel 2 h 30 min · serves 8

Estonian words to teach the grandchildren

Basics

  • tereTEH-rehhello
  • aitähAI-tahthank you
  • palunPAH-loonplease, or you're welcome
  • jahYAHyes
  • eiAYno
  • vabandustVAH-bahn-doostsorry, excuse me

Food and drink

  • leibLAYBbread (dark rye bread)
  • kalaKAH-lahfish
  • juustYOOSTcheese
  • vesiVEH-seewater
  • kohvKOHVcoffee
  • õluUH-loobeer

Towns and regions

  • Tallinn, Harju County: The Old Town and Toompea hill, Kadriorg Palace and park.
  • Tartu, Tartu County: The University of Tartu, founded in 1632, The Estonian National Museum.
  • Narva, Ida-Viru County: Hermann Castle, facing Ivangorod fortress across the river, Its border location.
  • Pärnu, Pärnu County: Its long sandy beach, Spas and rehabilitation centres.
  • Viljandi, Viljandi County: The Viljandi Folk Music Festival in late July, The castle ruins.
  • Rakvere, Lääne-Viru County: Rakvere Castle, with medieval life shown for visitors, The Aurochs sculpture.
  • Kuressaare, Saare County (Saaremaa): Kuressaare Castle, Spas.
  • Haapsalu, Lääne County: Healing sea mud, used since 1825, The bishop's castle.
  • Võru, Võru County: Kalevipoeg and Kreutzwald, The Võro dialect and culture.

A heritage evening with the family

Cook one of the recipes, print the large-print pack about Estonia, and finish with the big-screen quiz or the words crossword. Grandchildren can colour the flag.

More about Estonia