I was sitting in the church on Christmas Eve and I realized that it would be a very interesting blog about Estonian Christmas traditions. Luckily my camera was with me so I started shooting the pictures right away for the blog.
Thousands of years ago the ancient Estonians celebrated certainly winter solstice. Christianity arrived at our land on the 13th of century with violent crusades. German nobles who brought the religion stayed here until the early of 20th century, therefore our Christmas traditions are similar to German.
On the beginning of Christmas season children place their slippers on the windowsill and start waiting for the elves. On Advent the elves come during the night and bring children candies and small gifts to their slippers. In the morning when the children wake up, they run straight away to see what elves brought them.
As Christmas approaches more and more light up the Christmas lights on the houses to scare away the darkness. In the cities the shopping centre parking places are filled with cars, the visitors push the shopping carts filled with food and gifts. In Matsalu there is no supermarket and shopping madness. On Christmas Friday it was still very hard to find a parking place in front of the local shop.
Estonians are not that religious people. On Christmas Eve the churches are still crowded. Karuse church, that is the home church of our family, was so full of people that some of them had to stand up in the aisle. This small Karuse rural church is not in a good shape, but feels very homelike. Karuse church was built around 1260 and already seven generations of our children’s ancestors have been christened there.
Karuse Church Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
Karuse Church Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
Karuse Church Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
Current pastor started in his place little more than a month ago. Besides being a local pastor, Meelis Malk is also a chimney sweeper and a very good Santa Claus. While living in a small place, people tend to have many jobs.
Karuse Church Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
At Christmas time people visit the cemeteries and light up the candles on the graves of their relatives. On Christmas Eve, all the cemeteries are filled with thousands of candles and their lights.
Estonian cemetery Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
At the Christmas preparation time the Christmas tree will be brought from the forest and children decorate it. People bake gingerbread and make other traditional Christmas dishes for the Christmas dinner. Our family loves the most traditional Christmas dinner – blood sausages with cranberry jam, oven baked potatoes, stewed sauerkraut, jellied meat, roast pork with white sauce and potato salad.
Estonian Christmas tree Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
Gingerbread baking Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
Gingerbread baking Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
Estonian Christmas Eve dinner Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa
On Christmas Eve families sit around the table with their closest relatives. Santa Claus sends the Christmas gifts with elves and children find them under the Christmas tree. But it may happen that Santa Claus comes to visit families by himself and everybody has the chance to read a Christmas poem to Santa.
Estonian Christmas Eve dinner Photo by Olev Mihkelmaa