All parties must come to an end eventually and the centenary of the Republic of Estonia was no exception. Our celebrations began in April 2017, which marked the passing of 100 years from the unification of Estonian territory. They ended in the early morning of 2 February 2020, when a century had passed from signing the Tartu Peace Treaty. This treaty solidified the independence of the young nation.
Between those two dates, more than 3,000 events took place in Estonia and abroad and Estonian people gave nearly 1,500 gifts to their country.
The last week of the jubilee celebrations of the Republic of Estonia focused on the centenary of the Tartu Peace Treaty and comprised more than a hundred events across the entire country. The celebrations included all of us and in one way or another, they were organised by tens of thousands of people. This is why Estonia 100 ended with giving thanks.
On 1 February at 6.40 p.m., the grand thank-you event “Onwards in peace, Estonia!” took place at the Estonian National Museum, during which the people who contributed to the nationwide success of the jubilee of the country were acknowledged.
The party was followed by the grand dance event “Estonia Dances” at 9.35 p.m., which brought the latest Dance Celebration to all homes and communities via Estonian Public Broadcasting. Over the course of 100 minutes, the dance songs that have moved Estonians the most in the past century were performed.
During the first minutes of 2 February, a night-time performance took place on Tartu Town Hall Square. It ended at 12.45 a.m., when exactly 100 years had passed from the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty.
Onwards in peace, Estonia!
Read more about the Tartu Peace Treaty
THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TARTU PEACE TREATY
Highlights in Tartu and elsewhere
4 December 2019 – 100 years since the beginning of the peace negotiations
Lighting of candles at the memorial sites of the peace negotiators
5 p.m. A history and information hour at Jaan Poska’s house (Jaan Poska 8, Tallinn)
3 January 2020 – 100 years since the beginning of the armistice. Anniversary of the War of Independence Armistice and commemoration of those who fell
10.30 a.m. Ringing church bells and lighting candles at War of Independence memorial sites around the country
6 p.m. A concert and church service at Nõmme Rahu church (Võsu 5, Tallinn)
29 January 2020
At the National Archives’ Noora house (Nooruse 3, Tartu):
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Display of the original Tartu Peace Treaty
1 p.m. Speech meeting, lecture by Ago Pajur
2 p.m. Presentation of the new editions of the National Archives’ publications in the Tartu Peace Treaty room at Jaan Poska Gymnasium (JPG) (Vanemuise 35, Tartu):
4 p.m. Opening of the exhibition “The Origin of the Tartu Peace Treaty”. The exhibition displays drafts of the peace treaty and the table used during the peace negotiations.
4.15 p.m. Presentation of the stamp “Tartu Peace Treaty 100” and the stamp book “Estonian Heads of State 1918–2018”
30 January 2020
12 p.m. Presentation of the original document of the Tartu Peace Treaty at the Estonian National Museum (Muuseumi tee 2, Tartu). Invitations only.
The Peace Treaty will be on display at the Estonian National Museum from 30 January to 2 February.
2 p.m. The final round of the nationwide Tartu Peace Treaty quiz series at JPG (Vanemuise 35, Tartu)
4 p.m. Presentation of the book about the Cross of Liberty at JPG’s Tartu Peace Treaty room (Vanemuise 35, Tartu)
31 January 2020
10 a.m. Citywide high school student speech meeting at Tartu Peace Treaty square (Vanemuise 33, Tartu)
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Hour-long guided walking tours through places related to the Tartu Peace Treaty. Begins at the Tartu City Museum (Narva mnt 23), ends at JPG’s Tartu Peace Treaty room. By ticket only
11 a.m. International cyber law conference at ERM (Muuseumi tee 2, Tartu). By invitation only
6 p.m. Opening of the Tartu Peace Treaty exhibition and presentation of the new carpet “Tartu Peace Treaty” by Anu Raud
At the Tartu City Museum (Narva mnt 23). By invitation only.
1 February 2020
10 a.m. Presentation of the €2 circulation coin “Tartu Peace Treaty 100” at ERM (Muuseumi tee 2, Tartu)
10.30 a.m. Conference on foreign policy of the Tartu Peace Treaty at ERM (Muuseumi tee 2, Tartu). By invitation only
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Hour-long guided walking tours through places related to the Tartu Peace Treaty.
Begins at the Tartu City Museum (Narva mnt 23), ends at JPG’s Tartu Peace Treaty room. By ticket only
6 p.m. to 11 p.m. visual performance “The Sculptor of Peace” on Tartu Town Hall Square. “The Sculptor of Peace” is a visual production that will be unravelled on Tartu Town Hall and on two neighbouring buildings. Stones and buildings start speaking at every hour and half hour under the guidance of a video artist. Director Kati Kivitar, visual artist Argo Valdmaa, sound engineer Raido Linkmann
6 p.m. Estonia 100 conclusion party at ERM. By invitation only
21.35 p.m. ETV and ETV2´s special programme
At 12 a.m., we will meet at Tartu Town Hall Square to celebrate the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty in the first hour of 2 February. The event “100 years of Tartu Peace Treaty” takes place at 12.15–12.45 a.m.
The Tartu City Museum (Narva mnt 23) displays an exhibition of the Tartu Peace Treaty during the opening hours of the museum. The exhibition is open on 1–16 February. By ticket only
2 February 2020
Placing wreaths at the War of Independence memorial site at Pauluse cemetery at 8.30 a.m., at the Liberators of South Estonia memorial column at Raadi cemetery at 9 a.m., and at Julius Kuperjanov’s grave at 9.15 a.m.
10 a.m. Memorial ceremony at the Kalevipoeg monument (on the bank of Emajõgi in Tartu)
11 a.m. Tartu Peace Treaty church service at Tartu Jaani church
12.30 p.m. Tartu Peace Treaty meeting at Tartu Peace Treaty square. After that, you can visit JPG’s Tartu Peace Treaty room (Vanemuise 35, Tartu)
2 p.m. Presentation of the War of Independence collection work at the Tartu City Museum (Narva mnt 23)
4 p.m. Ceremonial concert for the 100th anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty at Vanemuise Concert Hall (Vanemuise 6, Tartu). By invitation only
9 p.m. to 12 a.m. visual performance “The Sculptor of Peace” on Tartu Town Hall Square. “The Sculptor of Peace” is a visual production that will be unravelled on Tartu Town Hall and on two neighbouring buildings. Stones and buildings start speaking at every hour and half hour under the guidance of a video artist. Director Kati Kivitar, visual artist Argo Valdmaa, sound engineer Raido Linkmann