Paper short abstract:

The paper intends to analyze in which way a new national holiday is created, by using elements of traditional folk calendar. 23. April is St. George Day, spring turnout day, having still meaningful place in ritual year. Since 2013 this day will be celebrated also as national veterans’ day in Estonia.

Paper long abstract:

In the end of last year, Estonian Government improved a new veteran politics, which is meant to celebrate the veterans, who have participated on military missions since 1995. As a part of it the new national day will be introduced in 2013. As stated by the Minister of Defense: "April of 23, the Day of St. George, the Day of the Patron Saint of warriors, will be celebrated in the next year first time as a Day of Veterans" (Reinsalu 2012).

St. George Day has an important place in Estonian folk calendar. St. George day marks the beginning of fieldwork, this is the spring turnout day, etc. The St. George Day has been celebrated also today. Important part of the celebration has been and still is the making of campfire. The Day of St. George has one more meaning in Estonian national calendar - the Uprising in year 1343 - has been celebrated on that day.

In the presentation I'm showing which (if any) connectivity is created between the old folk calendar and new national day. Which elements of traditional ritual day are picked up? Which connection is created with St. George Day Uprising, which was celebrated through Soviet time?

I intend to conduct interviews with people behind Veteran Day, and I will present, how the first Veteran Day was celebrated. The paper seeks to show which national and religious (the stressing of the role of St. George in the secularized Lutheran society) values are connected to this new (old) holiday.