Which date is celebrated as the Restoration of Independence of Estonia from the Soviet Union in 1991?

August 20th each year marks the date when citizens celebrate the Restoration of Independence of Estonia from the rule of the Soviet Union. In 1991, the rule of the Soviet Union ended and Estonia gained its independence.

The day is marked as a public holiday in Estonia observed by various events held across the country. It begins with a flag-raising ceremony held at the former Toompea fortress in Tallinn, the nation’s capital and ends with a festive concert with the theme “The Spirit and the Power of Woman” in Governor’s Garden.

The Republic of Estonia is located in Northern Europe across from Finland. It is one of the Baltic states with Latvia and Lithuania; it is also the smallest of the three states both in land area and population. As of August 25, 2021, the population is 1,327,557.

After successive rule by German, Danes, Swedes, Poles and Russians for centuries, a distinct Estonian national identity emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries. This culminated in independence from Russia in 1920 after a brief War of Independence at the end of WWI. During WWII, Estonia was repeatedly contested and occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union, ultimately being incorporated into the Soviet Union as WWII ended.

After a peaceful Singing Revolution of 1987, independence was restored on August 20, 1991. The Singing Revolution was a spontaneous mass evening singing demonstrations at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds.