kevadpüha

Kevadpüha, meaning Spring Holy Day, is a traditional Estonian spring festival rooted in rural folk culture. The name combines kevad (spring) and püha (holy day or festival). It referred to celebrations marking the arrival of spring and the warming of the land, and it was often linked to preparing for the new agricultural season. Customs varied by region but typically included communal gatherings, singing, dancing, and activities intended to greet nature’s renewal. In some areas Kevadpüha was associated with May Day festivities and the broader spring festival cycle in Northern Europe; in others it appeared as a distinct local rite with its own flavors.

With modernization and urbanization, many specific customs faded, and Kevadpüha as a named, unified celebration became less standardized. In present-day Estonia the term is mainly used in folklore contexts and cultural programming to describe spring-themed events, folk music and dance performances, or educational activities about traditional customs. It remains a reference point for historical rural life rather than a fixed public holiday, and dates and practices can vary by locality.