Eesti elu Estonian Life

[Äike]

PDF fail is here and the HTML version is here

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. Do not talk out loud.
Do not brag. Estonians are not inspired by anyone
thinking everything can be produced in Estonia at
virtually no cost. Estonia is a clan society where all
who know each other stick together. It may seem
difficult to establish contact with Estonians, but
once you get to know them they’re sincere and
the sense of humour – sarcastic and full of self-
irony – helps explain their nature. (JP, 29.01)

This PDF is from 2004, thus being half a decade old, so keep in mind that Estonia is even more advanced now.

[Jarl]

There are undoubtedly strong ties with Sweden and Finland, and even Denmark, and so Estonia is a Scandinavian-influenced country in both cultural and historical sense, but IS it really a Scandinavian/Nordic country itself? I guess it is not. I perfectly understand Estonian dislike of Russians and communism, and the desire to "cut off" all ties with that part of their history, however this strong desire sometimes takes a slightly extreme shape.

[Äike]

There are undoubtedly strong ties with Sweden and Finland, and even Denmark, and so Estonia is a Scandinavian-influenced country in both cultural and historical sense, but IS it really a Scandinavian/Nordic country itself? I guess it is not. I perfectly understand Estonian dislike of Russians and communism, and the desire to "cut off" all ties with that part of their history, however this strong desire sometimes takes a slightly extreme shape.

50 years of occupation doesn't change the past.

Estonians are not very comfortable with being referred as Eastern-Europeans. Estonians consider themselves a Nordic nation because of their location in the north which has strongly influenced their way of life and still does. Before WWII, Estonia was considered a Nordic country in the other Nordic countries. They are closely related to the Finns, and they also have very strong historical and cultural ties with Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Estonia is a Lutheran Protestant country, like other Nordic countries, and unlike Eastern-European countries which are mainly Eastern Orthodox Christian.

[EWtt]

There are undoubtedly strong ties with Sweden and Finland, and even Denmark, and so Estonia is a Scandinavian-influenced country in both cultural and historical sense, but IS it really a Scandinavian/Nordic country itself?

I think in order to be considered Nordic politically the country has to belong to the Nordic Council?

Estonia isn't Scandinavian, and I don't consider Finland as such, either. "Nordic" is another thing. Like Finns have the term "Pohjanmaa", we have for ages called ourselves a "Põhjamaa" and naturally, culturally Estonians feel a greater connection with, say Finland, rather than some other countries which were also forcefully left behind the Iron Curtain.

Well, the greatest influences to the Estonian culture (and language) actually come from the Germans who were pretty much in charge here for 700 years (like Swedes in Finland). So, it all comes down to how you interpret the concept of the term "Nordic".

Before the 19th century, the term 'Nordic' or 'Northern' was commonly used to mean Northern Europe in a sense that included the Nordic countries, European Russia, the Baltic countries (at that time Estonia, Livonia and Courland).

[Jarl]

50 years of occupation doesn't change the past.

Thanks God it does not! However, I agree Estonia has a strong Scandinavian link. Historically its possibly the most Scandinavian non-Scandinavian country

[esaima]

Thanks God it does not! However, I agree Estonia has a strong Scandinavian link. Historically its possibly the most Scandinavian non-Scandinavian country

The most Scandinavic non-Scandinavian country is probably Finland, after it-Estonia.

[esaima]

I perfectly understand Estonian dislike of Russians and communism, and the desire to "cut off" all ties with that part of their history, however this strong desire sometimes takes a slightly extreme shape.

Of course!

[esaima]

Well, to be honest-geographically Estonia is close to Russia.

[Jarl]

The most Scandinavic non-Scandinavian country is probably Finland, after it-Estonia.

I'd call Finland Scandinavian, and semi-Nordic, arguably Nordic. Estonia is rather Scandinavian/Nordic - influenced

[Äike]

Isn't Iceland the most Scandinavian non-Scandinavian country? That's my opinion.