[Split from Name Change Thread] Estonia: Nordic with a Twist??

[The Ripper]

But how do you define Nordic, what makes Nordic? What makes Estonia Nordic but Latvia not so?

[W. R.]

But how do you define Nordic, what makes Nordic? What makes Estonia Nordic but Latvia not so?

Good question.

It would make sense to define both Latvia and Estonia as Nordic countries and Lithuania as a Central European country... if the notion "the Baltic states (Balti riigid/Baltijas valstis/Baltijos valstybės)" didn't already exist.

But if we assume that it is possible to be simultaneously a Baltic state and a Nordic country then the discrepancy disappears.

[esaima]

I don't know about Latvia, but Estonia actually was considered Nordic by the other Nordic countries, before WW2.

One of my favorite songs, written in 1936, proves my point.

Well, if i am not wrong "Põhjamaa..." by Vinter/Vetemaa was not written in 1936.The author of the words, Enn Vetemaa was born in 1936... and the song was composed perhaps in 70ies, i dont know when exactly. But probably you wanted to say that in 1930ies was composed an other song which starts with the very similar words põhjamaa: "Su põhjamaa päikese kullast" by composer Tuudur Vettik?

[Äike]

But how do you define Nordic, what makes Nordic? What makes Estonia Nordic but Latvia not so?

What makes Finland Nordic? You answer that and the same answer could be applied for Estonia. In my opinion, our countries are very similar.

Latvians are Balts, they never had strong ties with Finland, Sweden nor Denmark. Actually, they didn't have any ties with Finland and Denmark at all.

Well, if i am not wrong "Põhjamaa..." by Vinter/Vetemaa was not written in 1936.The author of the words, Enn Vetemaa was born in 1936... and the song was composed perhaps in 70ies, i dont know when exactly. But probably you wanted to say that in 1930ies was composed an other song which starts with the very similar words põhjamaa: "Su põhjamaa päikese kullast" by composer Tuudur Vettik?

Looks like I did mix up some facts.

[The Ripper]

What makes Finland Nordic? You answer that and the same answer could be applied for Estonia. In my opinion, our countries are very similar.

But I'm asking you.

Latvians are Balts, they never had strong ties with Finland, Sweden nor Denmark. Actually, they didn't have any ties with Finland and Denmark at all.

So being Nordic means having strong ties to Finland, Sweden and Denmark?

We need to define what you mean by Nordic in order to deduce whether or not Estonia is Nordic.

[Äike]

But I'm asking you.


So being Nordic means having strong ties to Finland, Sweden and Denmark?

We need to define what you mean by Nordic in order to deduce whether or not Estonia is Nordic.

Strong ties: In 1918, during the start of the Estonian Freedom War, some islands(Ruhnu for example) in Western-Estonia wanted to join Sweden but were persuaded to stay with the newly created Estonian Republic. Even today, many Western Estonians have ties with Coastal-Swedes, including me.


As I see Nordic: People with similar cultures who are living in similar areas(climate for example).

Of course the people of a country are the most important when forming a meta-ethnicity.

THESE ARE ESTONIANS
When dealing with Estonians, keep in mind the
following: do not call Estonia a former Soviet
republic or an Eastern European country –
Estonians consider themselves Scandinavian and
their country a Nordic, not Baltic State. Do not
treat Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as a single
region, the Estonians take pride in themselves
and are Western-oriented.

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/sho...45&postcount=1

[The Ripper]

As I see Nordic: People with similar cultures who are living in similar areas(climate for example).

Yes, but then by this definition, would not Latvians and even Northern Germans be considered Nordic?

The Nordic countries today are a politically defined community of countries (however weak and side-stepped) - to which Estonia does not belong. However, Nordic is often also seen as a cultural sphere with a shared history, and to this sphere, I think, Estonia belongs to, it can be argued. But then I don't see how you can draw such a rigid line between Estonia and Latvia. All countries around the Baltic Sea have fairly similar cultures, and I guess Iceland and Norway, thanks to their Atlantic coast, are actually quite different from some of the Baltic regions. It is a cultural continuum, not a monolithic bloc.

[Treffie]

I think that if we can include Estonia as a Nordic country, then we can safely say that the Shetland and Orkney Islands are Nordic too (even though they're not independent, of course).

[Äike]

Yes, but then by this definition, would not Latvians and even Northern Germans be considered Nordic?

The Nordic countries today are a politically defined community of countries (however weak and side-stepped) - to which Estonia does not belong. However, Nordic is often also seen as a cultural sphere with a shared history, and to this sphere, I think, Estonia belongs to, it can be argued. But then I don't see how you can draw such a rigid line between Estonia and Latvia. All countries around the Baltic Sea have fairly similar cultures, and I guess Iceland and Norway, thanks to their Atlantic coast, are actually quite different from some of the Baltic regions. It is a cultural continuum, not a monolithic bloc.

THESE ARE ESTONIANS
When dealing with Estonians, keep in mind the
following: do not call Estonia a former Soviet
republic or an Eastern European country –
Estonians consider themselves Scandinavian and
their country a Nordic, not Baltic State. Do not
treat Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as a single
region, the Estonians take pride in themselves
and are Western-oriented.

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/sho...45&postcount=1

Anyway my point is... Latvians don't consider themselves Nordic, they consider themselves as Balts and kin of Lithuanians.

[Äike]

I think that if we can include Estonia as a Nordic country, then we can safely say that the Shetland and Orkney Islands are Nordic too (even though they're not independent, of course).

Did the non-Scandinavian inhabitants of Shetland ever made raids before the Vikings and were mentioned in Icelandic sagas as Vikings? I doubt it.