An Estonian Easter in the Open Air

Text Stewart Johnson

Photo Estonia’s Open Air Museum

Easter Sunday is very late this year, 20 April, but that’s a good thing in this part of the world, because the weather will be much warmer than usual for this holiday, celebrated around the globe. Estonia’s Open Air Museum (Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum) is inviting people to a festive day full of activities.

Children and adults alike can learn how to dye eggs Estonian-style, and there will also be an Easter egg hunt. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might also spot the Easter Bunny himself, walking around. Workshops will teach visitors about Estonian customs for Easter, including preparations, traditional recipes, and of course the Estonian swing, or “kiik”.

The Estonian word for Easter is “lihavõtted”, or quite literally in English “meat taking”, as this was the first day you could eat meat after Lent. Easter, as everyone knows, is a Christian holiday marking the resurrection of Jesus, but not everyone knows why the egg is the symbol for this event. The answer is actually quite simple, and you can find out if you celebrate Easter at the Open Air Museum!

The museum itself is open from 10:00 to 17:00, and the special Easter programme is from 11:00 to 16:00. Tickets are available at the gate, and the full programme is available here.

Estonia’s Open Air Museum is a vast park with several old-style buildings demonstrating what life was like in the days of old. Exhibits showing farms, households, and more dot the park. Bird-watching tours are also frequently organised, and for Easter there will be a special display of live farm animals. Not to mention the Easter Egg Beauty Pageant!

To learn more about this and similar topics
Easter Easter bunny Easter egg hunt Events in Estonia Events in Tallinn