The reference standards for the Estonian flag and the national coat of arms

The Estonian flag

The Estonian Flag Act which entered into force in the beginning of 2006 establishes new rules for the use of the national flag for state agencies and local government authorities, and grants private persons the freedom to use the Estonian flag as the national flag. The Estonian flag is hoisted to the Pikk Hermann tower in Tallinn every day at sunrise but not earlier than at 7.00 and is lowered at sunset. On the hoisting of the Estonian flag to the Pikk Hermann tower, the opening phrases of the national anthem of the Republic of Estonia, and on the lowering, a signature created on the basis of a fragment of the song by Gustav Ernesaks composed to the words of Lydia Koidula “Mu isamaa on minu arm” [“Land of My Fathers, Land that I Love”], are used as musical signature.

 
Grand national coat of arms

Small national coat of arms

The use of the national coat of arms is regulated by the National Coat of Arms Act.
Further information on the use of the Estonian flag and the national coat of arms is available here.

The national anthem of the Republic of Estonia

The national anthem of the Republic of Estonia is the choral song “Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm” [“My Fatherland, My Happiness and Joy”]. The music was composed by German-born Finnish composer Fredrik Pacius in 1848. The Estonian words for the song were written by Johann Voldemar Jannsen.

To download the sound file of the national anthem of the Republic of Estonia, please right click the link below.

The national anthem of the Republic of Estonia in MP3 format (3.2 MB; 256kbps)

The national anthem of the Republic of Estonia is performed by the Orchestra of the Estonian Defence Forces and the Estonian National Male Choir, conductor Peeter Saan. The duration of the recording is 1 minute 38 seconds.

The phonogram of the national anthem of the Republic of Estonia used in the sound file was recorded by Eesti Raadio in 1998.