Gallery: Estonia's Flag Day begins with early morning flag-raising ceremony
On June 4, the Estonian flag celebrates its 140th birthday. Events in honor of the jubilee are being held across the country, but Tuesday's festivities kicked off with a 7 a.m. flag-raising ceremony by Tall Hermann Tower in Tallinn.
The first blue, black and white flag was originally secretly consecrated as the flag of the fraternity Estonian Students' Society (EÜS) in Otepää in 1884.
In the decades to follow, the colors and the flag itself would increasingly become symbols of Estonian self-determination, and among other moments were present when Estonia declared its independence on February 24, 1918.
The tricolor was not officially adopted as Estonia's national flag, however, until summer 1922.
Happy birthday, sini-must-valge!
— Niels Boel Abrahamsen (@DKAMBinEstonia) June 4, 2024
Last week I had a chance to visit Otepää church, where the Estonian flag was inaugurated today, 140 years ago.@MFAestonia pic.twitter.com/PPtgUSA9En
EÜS' original flag still exists, and since 2016 can be viewed up close at the Estonian National Museum (ERM) in Tartu.
Click here to read more about the history of the blue, black and white flag and here for an overview of more Flag Day celebrations happening across Estonia on Tuesday.
Today, we celebrate 140 years of our national flag.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 4, 2024
Blue, black, and white were adopted as the colours of Estonian Students' Society in 1884, it became our national flag in 1918.
It's an important symbol of Estonian identity and independence. Wave it proudly today and always. pic.twitter.com/c8GgsytOza
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Editor: Mirjam Mäekivi, Aili Vahtla
