Flagday

Flag rules · EE

Flag rules in Estonia

The Flag Act distinguishes the general right to fly the flag from binding duties. Private individuals may fly it whenever they wish. Residential, business and office buildings must fly it on Independence Day, Victory Day and the Day of Restoration of Independence. Public authorities and legal persons in public law have additional statutory flag days.

08:00hoist no later than
22:00lower no later than

The right and duty to fly the flag

  • Everyone has the right to use and display the Estonian flag in accordance with the Act and good practice.
  • Private individuals and organisations are encouraged to fly it on other important national and personal occasions.
  • The private statutory duty expressly applies on 24 February, 23 June and 20 August to residential, business and office buildings.

Official source

Hoisting and lowering

  • The flag is hoisted at sunrise, but no later than 08:00, and lowered at sunset, but no later than 22:00.
  • A permanently flown flag must be illuminated during darkness.
  • Hoist briskly and lower slowly; the flag must not touch the ground, floor or water.

Official source

Midsummer night

  • On Victory Day, 23 June, the flag is not lowered in the evening.
  • It remains flying overnight through Midsummer Day, 24 June, and is lowered no later than 22:00 that day.

Official source

Mourning

  • For mourning, first hoist the flag to the top, then lower it until its bottom edge is at the midpoint of the pole.
  • Before taking it down, hoist it to the top again.
  • On 14 June, public authorities and legal persons in public law fly at half-mast or use a black mourning ribbon; private participation is encouraged.

Official source

Elections and companion flags

  • Election days for the Riigikogu, local councils and the European Parliament are flag days for public authorities and legal persons in public law; the flag is also flown at polling stations.
  • The European flag accompanies the Estonian flag on 9 May and European Parliament election day at the sites prescribed by law.
  • Lithuanian and Latvian flags are displayed on 16 February and 18 November respectively at the Riigikogu, presidential residence and government building.

Official source

Condition and precedence

  • The flag must be clean, intact and suitably sized for the pole.
  • A worn flag is disposed of with dignity and must not be used as decoration.
  • When displayed with other flags, they must be equally wide and on separate poles of equal height; the Estonian flag takes the place of honour under the statutory order of precedence.
  • A pennant does not replace the flag on a statutory flag day.

Official source