Birthdays
Celebrating birthdays in Estonia was to show your social status and position in society and more custom to children before the 1950s; after that, it became widely celebrated among adults (Ruusmann, 2014).
Estonian birthday parties are more formal; you are expected to dress up and be on time. It is considered to be rude to bring your own food to a party (unless it is a gift) because there will be food, and to wear outdoor shoes inside. Estonian birthday tables include potato salad, stuffed eggs, meat and potatoes, ham rolls, cake, and fruit. Usually, the invitations hold all the information you need to know about the party, but it is always best to ask when in doubt. When you know you can't come to the party you should tell them as soon as possible, and when you're going to be late, you should inform the inviter. |
Photo credit: Maimu Sisask- homemade birthday cake
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Housewarming party
When people have just moved into a new apartment/house, they invite their friends to join them and celebrate this joyous occasion together to show everyone the new living space and how they have settled down. A simple appetizer table is the most appropriate and comfortable for both house owners and guests. For snacks, it is recommended to keep savory and sweet cookies, canned food, and compotes in stock, which can be quickly offered to guests in various combinations. The guests always bring something with them.
So that abundance reigns in the house and the house owners do not know grief, it is customary to give a horseshoe as a gift. In Estonia, horseshoes have been mentioned in folklore and legends for centuries as a source of good fortune. This ritual has deep roots because only rich people could afford a horse in the old days. |
Photo credit: photodeposit.com, Author: Devin Pavel
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Authors:
Karl Margus Haud
Dima Papushin
Elsi Paas
Anna Poobus
Maimu Sisask
Simona Stenberg
ELU projekt
2022
Karl Margus Haud
Dima Papushin
Elsi Paas
Anna Poobus
Maimu Sisask
Simona Stenberg
ELU projekt
2022