Welcome to the flag raising ceremony at sunrise on 24 February

On the morning of the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, everyone is welcome to attend the ceremonial raising of the national flag in the Governor's Garden in Toompea in Tallinn. The flag will be raised at 7:32 a.m., while the national anthem of Estonia is played.

President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Lauri Hussar will deliver a speech at the ceremony. Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Urmas Viilma will say a blessing. Alex Palu Pukk, student of the Drama School of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and winner of Voldemar Panso Prize, will read out the Estonian Declaration of Independence.

President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis, President Kersti Kaljulaid, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, members of the Riigikogu and the Government, representatives of constitutional institutions and the diplomatic corps, the Estonian Flag Association and the leadership of the Defence Forces and the Defence League have been invited to the ceremony.

The flag guards of academic associations, patriotic organisations and schools will attend the ceremony in the Governor’s Garden.

The united male choir of the Estonian Male Choir Association, and Tallinn Police Orchestra will perform “Eesti lipp” (“Flag of Estonia”, music by Enn Võrk, words by Martin Lipp; conductor Mariliis Kreintaal), “Hoia, Jumal, Eestit” (“God Save Estonia”, music by Juhan Aavik, words by Aleksander Leopold Raudkepp; conductor Laine Randjärv), “Jää vabaks, Eesti meri” (“Stay Free, Estonian Sea!” by Viktor Konstantin Oxford; conductor Gustav Talmar), and “Kodumaa” (“Homeland”, music by Raimond Kull, words by Mihkel Veske; conductor Riivo Jõgi).

The ceremony will end at around 8.05 a.m. Detailed programme is available on the Riigikogu home page.

The flag-raising ceremony will be broadcast live on ETV and ETV2 with sign language interpretation, as well as on ETV+ and Vikerraadio.

Practical information:

• on the occasion of the holiday, the Women’s Home Defence will serve tea, and the Reservists Fund will serve sprat sandwiches at Toompea;
• to provide a better view of the festive event, screens will be placed on Falgi Road and in the Governor’s Garden, from which the flag-raising ceremony can also be watched;
• Toompea will be closed to traffic from 6.30 a.m., and more general traffic changes will begin in the city from 7 a.m. due to the Defence Forces parade.  

Additional information
Merje Meisalu
[email protected]
+372 631 6300

Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]