1 November – All Saints’ Day
2 November – All Souls’ Day
4 November – Endla Theatre 100
5 November – jubilee: puppeteer and children’s writer Helle Laas 80
6 November – jubilee: writer Viivi Luik 75
7 November – birth anniversary: writer Aira Kaal 110
10 November – Martinmas Eve. Martinmas marks the souls’ visiting time and the end of outdoor farm works. This is when women started with indoor handicraft and men went to work in the forest. One of the most important traditions was going around as Martin’s beggars. Initially it was reserved for men, but women have been participating since the end of the 19th century. People used to disguise themselves as families of Martin’s beggars on Martinmas Eve and go from door to door singing, dancing, playing games and riddles, gathering treats and wishing luck.
14 November – Fathers’ Day. Birth anniversary: actress Liina Reiman 130
16 November – Day of Declaration of Sovereignty
23 November – Birth anniversary: poetess Betti Alver 115
25 November – Saint Catherine’s Eve
Beggar impersonation is very important on Saint Catherine’s Day in addition to Martinmas. While Martin’s beggars are black, furry and ugly, Catherine’s beggars are white and beautiful. These were women and girls, usually going as Catherine the Mother and her children, who embellished themselves with veils, stockings, false plaits of hair and other pretty little things. Catherine’s beggars brought luck for cattle, especially sheep, which is why they checked how good girls in the families were at handicraft. They also played riddles, sang and danced just like Martin’s beggars did. If a Catherine’s beggar ‘peed’ in the corner of the room (i.e. sprinkled water there), this was also believed to bring good luck.
26 November – Citizen’s Day
November 30 – Saint Andrew’s Day. Saint Andrew’s Day is another holiday for which impersonating beggars was traditional, but manly Andrew’s beggars were less common than similar Martin’s beggars. However, Saint Andrew’s Day was the first of winter holidays to involve fortune-telling. One could see one’s future spouse in a dream.
Folk calendar via Estonian Open Air Museum
November 6th
How does black taste? The festival helps you to recall! Black Food Festival comes to Tallinn again. There are familiar tastes from the previous festival and definitely new black discoveries. There will be music and different things for children to do.
Where: Põhjala factory, Marati 5
When: November 6th, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Free admission
November 11th – 14th
Estonia’s best handicraft items are presented and sold at the fair, specialist workshops for handicraft lovers and crafts activities for children are organised. Demonstrations of handicraft products and presentations of new books take place. Visitors can eat Estonian traditional food and listen to various folk music groups. St. Martin’s Day Fair always takes place during the weekend closest to St. Martin’s Day (10 November) from Thursday to Sunday.
Where: Saku suurhall, Paldiski mnt 104b
When: November 11th – 14th
November 12th – November 28th
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival is the only FIAPF recognised competitive non-specialised film festival in Northern Europe and since 2014 accredited to organise an international non-specialised feature film competition along with 14 other film festivals around the world. It has become a regional gateway for international cinema and film projects, bringing author cinema to local film fans and helping films start/continue their festival run and find distribution. Each year the festival is visited by a growing number of journalists, festival representatives, producers, distributors, sales agents and filmmakers – together with nearly 1200 accredited guests – and covered by the world’s leading film and trade magazines, having a potential global media auditorium over 9 billion people.
When: November 1th – November 28th
Where: Different venues
November 13th
Estonian premiere of a film score by Tõnu Kõrvits: “Vampyr”
“Vampyr” brings together music and cinema from the 20th and the 21st centuries in the Estonian premiere of the Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits’s score (completed in 2015) for the Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1932 film.
The film “Vampyr or The Dream of Allan Grey” is an avant-garde classic, a nightmarish work of art filled with fireworks of visual effects that are still impressive.
Where: Kumu museum auditorium, Weizenbergi 34 / Valge 1
When: November 13th, 7 p.m.
Tickets: 15 – 30 €
November 14th
Enigma concert ”Original Enigma Voices”
One of the most unique artists in the world of music, Enigma, will return to Estonia to give a fascinating concert at Alexela Concert Hall again. The project, led by German Michael Cretu, has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and has won more than 100 platinum nominations. A two-hour show is planned, during which Enigmat will be accompanied by a band and a string orchestra.
The “Original Enigma Voices” tour will feature songs such as “Sadeness”, “Return to Innocence”, “Gravity of Love” and many others performed by Enigma members, as well as artists Andru Donalds, Angel X and Fox Lima, familiar from Enigma’s stories. According to Andru Donalds, the concert will be a wonderful and memorable journey in a charming soundscape.
Where: Alexela concert hall, Estonia pst 9
When: November 14th, 7 p.m.
Tickets: 30-80 €
November 17th
English rock band Nothing But Thieves concert
Southend five-piece Nothing But Thieves will take the stage in Tallinn at Vaba Lava on 17th November 2021 as part of their Moral Panic Tour.
English rock band Nothing But Thieves released their third album “Moral Panic” last October, together with a huge tour announcement in the UK, Ireland and Europe for Autumn 2021.
The past few years have been quite a ride for Nothing But Thieves’ members Conor Mason (vocals, guitars), Joe Langridge-Brown (guitars), Dominic Craik (guitars, keyboard), Philip Blake (bass guitar) and James Price (drums). Amassing over 700,000 album sales and 750 million streams so far, they have built up a loyal and wide following for their impactful alt-rock sound, cementing themselves as one of the best current rock bands in the world. Selling out their entire worldwide “Broken Machine” headline tour, their success has been global.
Where: Vaba Lava theatre centre, Telliskivi 60A
When: November 17th, 7 p.m.
Tickets: 39 €
November 19th
The programme of the concert has been compiled by the world-famous tenor José Cura – a conductor, a composer, and a singer who presents a selection of beautiful Argentinian songs as well as the pearls of Italian opera. Cura’s guitar concerto will be premiered in Estonia – a work composed during the coronary pandemic carrying the hope of ending the that the stilllife of live performances will soon be over. José Cura was introduced to Estonian audience in 2011 at the gala concert of the Saaremaa Opera Days.
Where: Estonia concert hall, Estonia pst 4
When: November 19th, 7 p.m.
Tickets: 30-50 €
November 20th
Sound & Cinema: Soundtrack Show
On November 20, first time in Estonia “Sound & Cinema: soundtrack show” at the “Alexela” Concert Hall. “Sound & Cinema” is a vivid multimedia show which contains the most popular soundtracks from the world known movies, cartoons, and video games.
You will absolutely fall in love with a masterly performance of both electronic and acoustic instruments including light show and video installations. And the main point is a live communication with the audience as well as a joint performance of several compositions. In sum, the show is required to view not only by moviegoers, music lovers, and gamers but also for fans of classical crossover so popular today.
Where: Alexela Concert Hall, Estonia pst 9
When: November 20th, 7 p.m.
Tickets: 20-70 €
November 26th
Holiday concert! It is grand, amazing, beautiful! All hits from Vivaldi to Metallica, accompanied by a unique dance show (continuation). The music that won the hearts of millions of listeners around the world performed by the best musicians of Europe with the participation of the stars of the world show ballet. The concert program combines stunning music and a spectacular dance show staged by world famous choreographers. Amazing temperamental performance, exclusive dance numbers, unique production and stunning costumes will leave an unforgettable impression. Dmitry Metlitsky, a multi-instrumentalist composer, is called modern Mozart – beautiful melodies, stunning arrangements and performance penetrate the heart and win listeners from the first notes. It is impossible to describe these emotions in words – this must be heard!
Where: Alexela Concert Hall, Estonia pst 9
When: November 26th, 7 p.m.
Tickets: 26-46 €
The calendar has been created with the support of Tallinn city and Kodurahu program.
