March brings not only the first signs of spring, but also an important event in the Estonian calendar – Mother Tongue Day (or Estonian Language Day). Every year on 14 March, Estonians celebrate the beauty, history, and preservation of their language.
The status of Estonian as the official language is something that cannot be taken for granted. For centuries, Estonian was mainly the spoken language of the peasantry, while German and Russian dominated in government and education. The change came with Estonia’s independence. In 1919, Estonian was declared the official language. This was a significant step – for the first time, Estonian became the language of law, science, and higher education. This historic turning point laid the foundation for the rapid development of the Estonian language, which continues to this day.
Who was Kristjan Jaak Peterson?
The date of Mother Tongue Day, 14 March, is not random. It is the birthday of Estonian poet Kristjan Jaak Peterson (1801–1822). Peterson was an extraordinary young man who spoke at least 16 languages, but chose to write in the ‘vernacular’, which was looked down upon at the time. During his short life, which lasted only 21 years, he asked a question in his famous ode ‘The Moon’ which is still dear to Estonians’ hearts to this day:
‘Cannot the language of this land,
with the breeze of the song
rise to the heavens
to seek eternity?’
These lines symbolise the belief that even a small language can be a world-class language of high culture. Peterson’s courage and belief in the Estonian language are the reasons why we celebrate Mother Tongue Day on his birthday.
How to celebrate Mother Tongue Day? Put yourself to the test!
Although Peterson’s legacy is old, celebrating Mother Tongue Day as a national holiday is a relatively new tradition. The idea came from Meinhard Laks, a schoolteacher from Kadrina, back in 1995.
Nowadays, one of the most popular events on Mother Tongue Day is the e-dictation contest held by Vikerraadio. It is a fun and engaging challenge where thousands of people write down the text they hear on the radio in real time. This is an excellent opportunity for new Estonian residents to challenge themselves, as the competition also has a separate category for those whose native language is not Estonian. More information about e-dictation is available here.
It is also worth taking a look at Sõnaveeb (soneveeb.ee). It is the best digital assistant for any language learner, providing clarity in both word meanings and conjugations. To celebrate Mother Tongue Month, the Estonian Language Institute is publishing humorous short videos on its Facebook page introducing new words in the Estonian language.
The Estonian language is our shared treasure. On this Mother Tongue Day, we invite you to appreciate the beauty of the Estonian language, participate in an e-dictation, and celebrate this wonderful language with us!
Kristjan Jaak Peterson, ‘The Moon’:
“Kas siis selle maa keel
laulu tuules ei või
taevani tõustes üles
igavikku omale otsida?”
Can’t the language of this land,
rising to the sky,
seek eternity in the song of wind?
Can’t this lands language
with the breeze of the song
not rise to the heavens
to seek eternity
Article was published in the Settle in Estonia newsletter, which is designed to support new migrants in their adaptation process and help them feel at home in Estonia more quickly. The newsletter helps make adaptation easier and keeps readers informed about important information needed for everyday life in Estonia. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.