Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

50 INTRODUCING EST ONIA

life, although hundreds of
years of foreign occupation
led to many people converting
to Christianity, including
Lutheranism and Russian
Orthodoxy. The most imp ortant
aspects of Estonian culture are
distinctly pagan in origin. The
hugely popular midsummer
festival Jaanipäev (St John’s
Day), characterized by drinking,
dancing and revelry in the
evening on 23 June and through
to 24 June, has a pagan origin.

Political Life
Estonia underwent a major
political transition in the 1990s,
adopting a parliamentary
democracy which introduced
neo-liberal economic and
political policies.
In the early years of
Participants awaiting their turn at the Estonian Song and Dance Festival independence, there was a
lingering cynicism towards
links through the Finno-Ugric language politics, as many former Communist Party
family. A sizeable Russian-speaking leaders continued to hold high offices,
minority remained in Estonia after the and corruption was a regular part of the
Soviet withdrawal, leading to some dip- political process. This changed in 2000, as
lomatic skirmishes with Russia over the the nation prepared to join the European
years. Today, there are fewer instances of Union and decisions from Brussels now
conflict between Russians and Estonians. have just as much effect as local ones.
Estonians take great pride in their Estonia is governed by a coalition of
heritage. The country’s medieval past is parties. The major parties are the centre-
visible not only in some of its architecture, right Reform Party and the populist
but also in festivals that have their roots in Centre Party, while several smaller parties
that era. Folk culture is central to national often hold the balance of power.
identity, as Estonians were
predominantly reduced to serfdom,
with no right to own land or
property, until the country’s first
spell of independence in 1918. The
Estonian Song and Dance Festival,
which was first held in 1869 and has
since taken place every five years,
remains a significant icon for the
nation, rousing affirmation of
Estonian identity.
Religion does not play a
particularly large part in Estonian Parliamentary session in progress