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member nations. The military parade, the reception and a concert that precedes the reception are broadcast live on television. This coverage includes a speech by the
President. As the President's reception is always organized on 24 February, similar receptions by local governments are often held on
436:
Blue
Awakening is the main organizer of the annual torchlight procession through Tallinn on 24 February to commemorate the Independence Day of Estonia. The first Independence Day demonstration was held in 2014. According to Blue Awakening, the event is meant to honor those who have fallen for the
233:
The
Estonian Provisional Government decided already on 12 February 1919 to commemorate 24 February as the date of the anniversary of the declaration of independence. In the 1930s, the government discussed whether the national day should be moved to another date at a "better time of the year" (in
275:
has been established, with the first parade held in
Tallinn in 1993 marking the diamond jubilee year since the events of 1918. Both the parade and the reception is held in different years in different cities; in 2014 they were held in
270:
organises a festive
Independence Day reception at which state decorations are awarded to recipients whose names are published in advance. Since the restoration of Estonian independence in 1991, a new tradition of parades by the
178:. Originally intended to be proclaimed on 21 February 1918, the proclamation was delayed until the evening of 23 February, when the manifesto was printed and announced publicly during a political demonstration in the city of
190:, as the declaration of independence occurred between retreating Bolshevik Russian and advancing German troops, Tallinn remained free of foreign military presence for only one day, the 24 February 1918. During the
570:
475:
713:
205:
320:. In recent years, typically on the morning of the holiday, the ground column consisting of infantry and armoured formations marching through the square from the
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who reports to the
President on the status of the parade upon his/her arrival at noon and gives the keynote address after the inspection. Attendees include the
309:
A political demonstration in
Tallinn on 24 February 2018 featured torchlights. The annual event has been organized by EKRE and the Blue Awakening to mark the
451:
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that followed from the next day, the German Empire did not recognise the newly declared
Republic of Estonia. However, after the defeat of the
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form part of the parade. Outside of the military, the police and other cadet and paramilitary youth organizations are represented.
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the previous day, 23 February. Schools and other institutions sometimes hold commemorative
Independence Day events even earlier.
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The
Estonian Declaration of Independence, also known as the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia was drafted in Tallinn by the
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Held every year 1919–1940, and again since 1993, the annual military parade of the Estonian armed forces is held on
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in World War I, Germany withdrew its troops from Estonia, and formally handed power in Estonia over to the
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terms of weather), such as 15 June, to mark the date when the Estonian Constituent Assembly adopted the
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nation of Estonia and to signify that Estonian youth have not abandoned the nationalist principles.
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that described it as "Nuremberg-esque" and likened the ideology of the participants to that of the
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182:. On the next day, 24 February 1918, the manifesto was printed and distributed in the capital,
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692:"Vabariigi aastapäeval toimub Tallinnas järjekordne tõrvikurongkäik (Objektiiv.ee (SAPTK))"
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82:
539:
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740:"Wiesenthal Center Criticizes Extreme Right March to Mark Estonian Independence Day"
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University student organisations setting up flags to celebrate Independence Day in
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30:
758:"Nazi Hunter: Nuremberg-esque march no way to celebrate Estonian independence"
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giving a speech on the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia at the
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714:"TV3 VIDEO: Mida arvavad tõrvikurongkäigust sellel osalenud inimesed?"
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The following organizations send units and formations to the parade:
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Crowds watching the military parade in Tallinn (24 February 2011)
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The first celebration of Estonian Independence Day in capital
284:, with that year's parade featuring contingents from fellow
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television station. The parade is traditionally led by the
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in 1920. The date of the national day was never changed.
501:"23. ja 24. veebruar 1918: kuidas iseseisvust kuulutati"
632:"FOTOD! Vabariigi aastapäeva tähistati vaatemängulise"
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98:
88:
74:
63:
52:
44:
23:
658:"Eesti Vabariigi aastapäeva tähistamine Tallinnas"
386:Volunteer District of the Estonian Defence League
359:Headquarters Support and Signal Battalion of the
470:The event has been harshly criticized by the
8:
174:which had been elected by the elders of the
593:"February 24 — Estonia's Independence Day!"
452:100th Anniversary of the Estonian Republic
20:
532:"89 aastapäeva – sinimustvalgega ja ilma"
447:90th Anniversary of the Estonian Republic
413:Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces
150:which was published in the capital city
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463:
434:Conservative People's Party of Estonia
154:on 24 February 1918, establishing the
128:Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia
48:Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia
389:Naiskodukaitse (Women's Home Defence)
7:
423:, as well as members of parliament (
209:Independence Day military parade in
148:Estonian Declaration of Independence
69:Estonian Declaration of Independence
561:Rosenthal, Reigo (3 October 2012).
499:Arjakas, KĂĽllo (23 February 2008).
530:Vahtre, Lauri (23 February 2007).
14:
573:from the original on 27 June 2017
617:EKRE: Muljeid tõrvikurongkäigust
293:Independence Day military parade
29:
407:It is often broadcast on major
200:Estonian Provisional Government
192:occupation by the German Empire
158:. Since then, it has been the
1:
763:International Business Times
176:Estonian Provincial Assembly
476:Estonian nazi collaborators
311:Independence Day of Estonia
16:National holiday in Estonia
820:
804:Public holidays in Estonia
266:early in the morning. The
421:Prime Minister of Estonia
344:Estonian Military Academy
136:Eesti Vabariigi aastapäev
28:
379:Special Operations Force
318:Tallinn's Freedom Square
262:raising ceremony at the
258:The day begins with the
67:Anniversary of the 1918
794:Independence of Estonia
744:Simon Wiesenthal Center
472:Simon Wiesenthal Center
227:Freedom Square, Tallinn
350:Baltic Defence College
313:
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273:Estonia Defence Forces
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230:
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186:. At the time, during
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663:Estonian World Review
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208:
784:February observances
371:2nd Infantry Brigade
366:1st Infantry Brigade
268:President of Estonia
511:on 26 February 2008
417:Minister of Defence
172:Salvation Committee
156:Republic of Estonia
789:Culture of Estonia
694:. 23 February 2016
638:. 24 February 2016
314:
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264:Pikk Hermann Tower
256:
231:
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202:in November 1918.
146:commemorating the
799:Independence days
766:. 5 October 2020.
746:. 5 October 2020.
720:on 2 October 2016
280:, and in 2015 in
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716:. Archived from
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538:. Archived from
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507:. Archived from
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140:national holiday
124:Independence Day
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102:24 February 2025
53:Observed by
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24:Independence Day
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375:Support Command
361:KĂĽberkaitseliit
355:Guard Battalion
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223:Konstantin Päts
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126:, formally the
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83:Military parade
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99:Next time
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620:(in Estonian)
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597:Visit Estonia
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563:"World War I"
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393:Colour guards
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260:national flag
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45:Official name
43:
38:
32:
27:
22:
19:
761:
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734:
722:. Retrieved
718:the original
708:
696:. Retrieved
686:
674:. Retrieved
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652:
640:. Retrieved
635:
626:
612:
600:. Retrieved
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587:
575:. Retrieved
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556:
544:. Retrieved
540:the original
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513:. Retrieved
509:the original
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315:
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257:
242:Celebrations
236:Constitution
232:
169:
162:of Estonia.
160:national day
127:
123:
122:
75:Celebrations
64:Significance
18:
698:30 November
676:30 November
666: [
642:30 November
602:24 February
577:24 February
546:24 February
515:24 February
322:Land Forces
188:World War I
93:24 February
778:Categories
486:References
332:, and the
221:President
166:Background
106:2025-02-24
724:1 October
536:Postimees
505:Postimees
426:Riigikogu
403:countries
330:Air Force
114:Frequency
571:Archived
567:Estonica
441:See also
419:and the
138:), is a
132:Estonian
79:Concerts
57:Estonian
384:Tallinn
346:(KVÜÕA)
229:(1938).
184:Tallinn
152:Tallinn
144:Estonia
104: (
37:Tallinn
409:public
254:(2013)
213:(1919)
117:annual
59:people
39:(1919)
670:]
458:Notes
395:from
282:Narva
278:Pärnu
252:Tartu
211:Tartu
180:Pärnu
726:2016
700:2017
678:2017
644:2017
604:2023
579:2017
548:2008
517:2008
432:The
399:and
397:NATO
326:Navy
286:NATO
89:Date
429:).
142:in
780::
760:.
742:.
668:et
660:.
634:.
595:.
569:.
565:.
328:,
324:,
134::
81:,
728:.
702:.
680:.
646:.
606:.
581:.
550:.
519:.
478:.
130:(
108:)
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