Free Estonian Word

A celebration of culture and the ways it connects us What brings us together, across generations and across distances? Our theme is “Kultuur hoiab meid” or “Carried by Culture.” Culture is the braid of strands that come together - music, dance, language, community, history, and resilience - to which we...

"Abandon all hope ye who enter here”. This phrase from Dante Alighieri's "Inferno" could easily have been inscribed on the gates of the many so-called corrective labor colonies of the former Soviet Union, often referred to colloquially to this day as the Gulag prison system of the USSR. The highly...

Members and friends of Kesk-Florida Eesti Selts, the Estonian Society of Central Florida were delighted to attend Azara Ballet’s engaging performance titled “Encore” on November 14 and 15, 2025, in the Riverview Performing Arts Center, Sarasota (FL).  Martin Flowers (Roosaare), Azara Ballet’s co-founder and resident choreographer, graciously extended complimentary tickets...

The Christmas market on Tallinn’s Town Hall Square opened on November 21. It is like a winter fairytale land – the square is decorated with a sparkling Christmas tree and surrounded by small wooden huts. These offer everything from Christmas goods and gifts to food and drinks. Strolling through the...

Dear Council Member Keith Powers, dear President of the Estonian House Carl Skonberg, dear community representatives, ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to honor the legacy of Estonian diplomat Mr Ernst Jaakson. He who represented Estonia in New York from 1932 until 1998, until his passing. He was recognized...

Ernst Jaakson is not only a historical figure. For Estonian diplomats, he stands as one of the towering personalities of our foreign service – a man with a moral compass many could envy. His life story is something that could only emerge from the combination of a person deeply committed...

Three years ago, Estonian gallerist and art dealer Margot Samel opened her own gallery in New York City. Since then, Samel has been working to promote young artists and even sold her first work in New York to Leonardo DiCaprio. Estonian gallerist Margot Samel studied art history in Scotland, where...

Estonian jewelry artist Claudia Lepik will present her striking work at the Endless Light Ceremony during NYC Jewelry Week 2025 on November 20 (2–8 PM) at Flux Lumina Studio, 154 E 2nd Street, New York. Known for pushing the boundaries of jewelry through scale, form, and material, Lepik explores the...

In late 2021, I made a shocking discovery: My local Syrian baklava shop in Providence, Rhode Island had a Latvian Auseklis motif in its logo. As a Latvian-Estonian-American, I had to investigate. I walked into the store, ordered some baklava, and asked staff behind the counter: “What star is this?”...

In times of peace, it’s easy to forget how important the ties that bind us can be. In times of global strife and uncertainty however, the significance of our relations with our neighbors, and our alliances with like minded people, quickly return to the forefront. A few weeks ago, I...