About Eesti Päevad

It was over a hundred years ago that Estonians in Australia started to organise their social life. First it was just a desire for Estonians to get together (in late 1800s), then came purpose – let’s get together and sing Estonian songs (in early 1900s), dance Estonian folk dances, teach children our language – and Estonian organisations were formed in all the major cities.

A massive migration followed World War II. In 1952, cities’ organisations gathered under one umbrella, AESL, Council of Estonian Societies in Australia. Two years later, AESL decided to create a large event, where all the Estonian groups all over Australia get together, enjoy and display Estonian culture in Australia, and so the Estonian Festival was born, first held in Sydney in 1954. A tradition was formed, 70 years ago – to hold Eesti Päevad Festivals every three years, rotating between cities.

The first EP was a massive gathering with many ethnic cultural performers and lots of sport – “after-war” Estonians were enthusiastic and youthful. The same groups continue today, folk dancing, singing, handicraft, language, only the generations have changed. These days, Estonians in Australia are either born here or have recently arrived from Estonia. The Eesti Päevad Festival is still going strong – being held every two years these days to keep our ethnic culture groups inspired to continue, and to welcome the newly arrived. Since the World Eesti Päevad ESTO was held in Melbourne in 1988, the Eesti Päevad organisers have also included in the program performers from Estonia – theatre groups and popular musicians.