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Estonia Independence Day2028 Countdown
Thursday, February 24, 2028
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About Estonia Independence Day
Estonia Independence Day, observed every year on February 24, marks the declaration of independence in 1918, when the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia proclaimed the country a sovereign state amid the chaos following World War I. The date also coincides with the anniversary of the Estonian flag, first consecrated in 1884, making it a doubly symbolic celebration.
Official ceremonies begin with a flag-raising at sunrise on Toompea Hill in Tallinn, where the blue, black, and white flag is hoisted by an honor guard while the national anthem plays. The president delivers a traditional Independence Day address, and a military parade travels to a different host city each year.
People across Estonia mark the day with concerts, church services, and festive meals. A beloved custom is eating kama and traditional treats, and in the evening many light candles in windows to remember those who fell in the War of Independence. For Estonians at home and abroad, February 24 remains the emotional heart of the national calendar.
History of Estonia Independence Day
The declaration was drafted as the Russian Empire collapsed and German forces advanced. On February 24, 1918, the Salvation Committee issued the manifesto in Tallinn, and independence was proclaimed in Pärnu the same day, just before German occupation suspended the new state. The ensuing Estonian War of Independence ended in victory in 1920, and the republic flourished until Soviet and German occupations during World War II. Through five decades of Soviet rule, February 24 was marked quietly, with flowers at flag sites, hidden songs, and private gatherings, keeping national memory alive. Independence was restored de facto in 1991, and the holiday regained its full official character. The flag honored on this day dates to 1884, when Estonian students consecrated the tricolor that later became the national flag. Today the president's speech, the Toompea flag-raising, and the rotating military parade anchor a day that blends solemn remembrance with quiet pride.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- When is Estonia Independence Day?
- Estonia Independence Day falls every year on February 24, the date of the 1918 declaration of independence.
- Is Estonia Independence Day a public holiday?
- Yes. February 24 is an official public holiday in Estonia, and schools, offices, and most shops are closed.
- How do people celebrate Estonia Independence Day?
- Estonians observe the day with a sunrise flag-raising in Tallinn, the president's address, a military parade in a different city each year, concerts, and candles lit in windows to honor the fallen.