The Estonian Centre of Southwestern Finland wants to give Estonia a gift of a series of events, themed Estonia 100. The series starts on 10 January 2018 with the exhibition “From Estonia to Australia”.

Estonia became an independent state on 24 February 1918, less than three months after Finland. The Estonian Centre of Southwestern Finland wants to give Estonia a gift of a series of events, themed Estonia 100. The series starts on 10 January 2018 with the exhibition “From Estonia to Australia”.

The exhibition opens in the Institute of Migration in Turku, and it portrays a picture of Estonian refugees living on German refugee camps 1945-1950. People on the camps had to flee their home country in fear of being imprisoned or deported. Some of them travelled on and ended up in different parts of the world, including Australia.

In addition to Independence Day celebrations, there’s plenty going on in Turku. In February-April the Estonian Centre of Southwestern Finland gives a series of lectures, “Get to know Estonia”. On Movie Day, 8 March, Estonian films are shown in the city main library, and on 16 March children have their own party in Vimma, Art and Activity Centre for Youths. You’ll find all events in the Turku event calendar with the key “Estonia 100”.

Turku honors Estonia’s Independence Day by lighting up the Library Bridge with the colors of the Estonian flag on 24 February.

Gifts for the one-hundred-year-old

Estonian centenary celebrations share common features with Finland’s jubilee year. In Estonia, anyone can give the state presents and contributions: ideas, suggestions, artwork, events or collective work. The donations may come from private persons or from larger groups of people.

During Soviet occupation the Estonian Independence Day was not celebrated, but today Estonia also celebrates the regaining of their independence on 20 August, in memory of The Singing Revolution in 1991.