Dedicated website to celebrate Estonia's 100th anniversary launched
The Republic of Estonia will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2018 and will also hold the presidency of the European Union in the same year.
In anticipation to the anniversary, the dedicated web page EV100 has now been launched by the government. Published in Estonian, Russian and English, the page keeps people posted about the upcoming events and preparations.
It has now also sent out an “invitation” on its platform, asking people to “make gifts“ for the 100th birthday of the Republic of Estonia.
“The 100th birthday of the Republic of Estonia is such an important event that the organizing of it can’t be put solely on the shoulders of public authorities. For this reason, the government is handing the reigns of celebrating the 100th birthday of Estonia over to the people. This means that everyone has the possibility to contribute to it, by organizing an event or doing something important for the community,” Heiki Loot, the Secretary of State, said.
“With every birthday the main question is always “what should the birthday present be?” What would be an honourable gift for Estonia?” Jaanus Rohumaa, the head of the Organizing Committee of Estonia 100, said.
“Making gifts for Estonia actually means making gifts for ourselves. We have an excellent opportunity to make gifts and pleasant surprises for each other, because the birthday of the Republic of Estonia is a celebration for the people of Estonia. The 100th birthday is an opportunity to meet new people and for working together. Everyone should see this as an opportunity for self-development and a chance to show what they can do and what they love. We live in Estonia, we are closely connected to this land and there are people here who we love and congratulate – so let’s make gifts for them,” Rohumaa added.
The 100th birthday will be celebrated over longer period, not in a single day. Major celebrations are expected to start in April 2017, to mark the centralizing of Estonian land into one province. The anniversary's culmination will be February 24 in 2018, but the celebrations will continue up until February 2 in 2020, the anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty.
Many preparations have already started. For example, the Union of Estonian Architects has launched the architectural programme “Good Public Space” involving the centers of many towns in Estonia; Estonian people have been encouraged to plant oaks in designated parks all over the country.
Editor: S. Tambur