Christmas is the main holiday in many European states, but each country has its own traditions of celebrating Christmas Eve. To learn how Christmas holidays are celebrated in Estonia, the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent addressed Team Leader of the EU Centre Ehtel Halliste.

“Christmas or jõulud is the most expected holiday in Estonia. Officially Estonian Christmas begins in the first Advent, Sunday, four weeks before the Christmas. It is a countdown. The Christmas tree is being decorated. The Christmas markets appear in the streets,” Ehtel Halliste said.

During the Christmas time, Estonians put triangle candles on the windows and wreaths on the doors. Estonians usually have natural Christmas trees. In the countryside people go to the forest and cut one or grow the tree themselves. The Christmas tree is in the house till January 6.

“The biggest day in Estonia is Christmas Eve. The family comes together. Many generations gather and there is a huge Christmas dinner. Everyone has blood sausages and lingberry jam. Then it depends on the family: they have either pork baked in the oven with potatoes or goose with potatoes,” she said.

The most important event of the evening happens when someone knocks at the door and Father Christmas comes.

“The Estonian Father Christmas is called Jõuluvana and he always comes in person.  He is not putting presents under Christmas tree, but always comes to the house. He always has branches without leaves for bad kids and huge sack of presents. He sits down and asks ‘Are there any good children in this family?’ Then he starts giving presents, but in order to get the present you must sing a song, know a poem or dance. No one is excused, even grandmothers and grandfathers. Everyone must do something. Some families go to church, but for example my family always goes in the morning on December 25,” Ehtel Halliste added.

Then people leave the food on the table for forefathers to come to have something.

Photo: visitestonia.com