Compiled by: Kalev Uustalu, Ivo Manfred Rebane
Technical editor:
Kalev Uustalu
Technical designer
and illustrator: Arvo Rebane
Translator from
Estonian:
Produced by: State
Chancellery, Department of Insignia
Σ
State Chancellery of the Republic of Estonia, 2001
Published and printed
in Estonia
ISBN
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Pursuant to the State Decorations Act (State Gazette I
1997,1,4; 14, correction notice; 1998, 47, 699) a decoration may be worn only by
a person to whom the decoration was awarded and who has not been deprived of his
or her decoration or the right to wear the decoration on the bases and pursuant
to the procedure provided for in this Act.
2. The order or decoration of a foreign country may be worn
only by a person to whom the order or decoration was awarded on the bases and
pursuant to the procedure provided for in the legal acts of this country. A
citizen of Estonia may wear a state order or decoration of a foreign country
after its registration in the Decorations Committee.
3. Decorations shall be worn as prescribed by the State
Decorations Act and the Procedure for wearing orders and decorations,
approved by a regulation of the Government of the Republic; in addition to this,
foreign orders and decorations shall be worn according to their statutes or
constitution. If there is a justified need related to a state visit, the
President of the Republic may act differently from the present procedure.
4. Explanations about particular instances of wearing
decorations shall be given by the Decorations Committee.
WEARING OF ESTONIAN STATE DECORATIONS
5. Decorations shall be generally worn on festive national and
social occasions. As an exception, the Cross of Liberty may be worn at all
times.
6. Decorations shall be worn in original size or in miniature.
A rosette badge or a ribbon may be worn as an attribute of the decoration. As an
exception, the Cross of Liberty shall be worn only in original size. A person
who has been awarded a decoration may order a miniature of the decoration from
the Decorations Committee, paying the cost of the making and delivery of the
miniature.
7. Original
and miniature decorations shall be worn on different attires as follows:
1) One sash, up to four order stars
and at the most two collar crosses as well as all breast decorations in original
size or all decorations in miniature may be worn on a dress suit above the
buttonhole of the left lapel (figure 1 pos. 2, 3; figure 2 pos.
1, 2, 3);
2) Miniature decorations or
the rosette badge of a decoration may be worn on the left lapel of a dinner
jacket (figure 3 pos. 1, 2);
3) One collar cross and one
order star as well as breast decorations in original size or the rosette badge
of a decoration may be worn on a dark suit (figure 7 pos. 1, 2);
4) The rosette badge of a
decoration may be worn on a day suit (figure 7 pos. 3);
5) On uniforms, decorations may be worn as follows:
On a festive evening uniform,
the same decorations may be worn as on a dress suit (figure 6 pos. 1, 2);
On a festive ordinary
uniform, one collar cross and order star as well as ribbons or original breast
decorations may be worn (figure 5 pos. 1, 2, 3);
On an ordinary uniform,
ribbons may be worn (figure 6 pos. 3);
6) On an evening dress, ladies may
wear one sash, up to four order stars and one collar cross in original size or
all decorations in miniature or the rosette badge of a decoration (figure 3 pos.
3; figure 4 pos. 1, 2, 3);
7) On
a national costume worn as festive dress decorations may be worn in original
size or in miniature (figure 8 pos. 1, 2, 3.).
8. Decorations
of different classes shall be worn as follows:
1) Collar placed
on shoulders, the decoration suspended on the breast.
2) 1st class decoration sash
(105 mm in width) with a cross (coat of arms) worn diagonally over the right
shoulder and the left hip and the star is worn on the left side of the breast;
3) 2nd class decoration
the cross (coat of arms) is worn at the collar and the star is worn on the left
side of the breast;
4) 3rd class decoration worn
at the collar;
5) 4th and 5th class
decorations, medals (crosses) worn on the left side of the breast.
9. On an evening dress, ladies shall
wear decorations as follows:
1)
Sash 64 mm in width, worn diagonally over the right shoulder and the left
hip (figure 3 pos. 3);
2) Star worn
on general bases;
3) Collar
cross (coat of arms) worn on the left side of the breast attached to a
ribbon tied in a horizontal knot (figure 4 pos. 1);
4) Breast crosses, medals (crosses)
worn on the left side of the breast (figure 8 pos.1).
10.
As a rule, a person who has been awarded different classes of the same
decoration shall wear only the decoration of the highest class. Exceptions to
this are the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the Cross of the Eagle with swords,
the iron crosses of the Cross of the Eagle and decoration medals, in which case
the person may wear all classes of decorations awarded to him or her.
11.
A person who has been awarded different decorations shall generally wear
decorations of the higher classes in front of lower class decorations. As an
exception, the Cross of Liberty shall be placed before all other decorations
irrespective of their classes.
12.
Decorations of the same class shall be generally worn in the order they were
awarded, i.e., the decoration that was last awarded shall be worn in the first
position. As an exception, the Order of the Cross of the Eagle with swords shall
be worn in the first position among other decorations of the same class. The
positions shall be counted to the left from the centre of the breast.
13. The
collar of a decoration shall be worn on especially festive national occasions,
taking as a basis the following guidelines:
1) The collar is always worn with
the corresponding star, but without the sash of the decoration (figure 1 pos.1);
2) The star that belongs to the
collar shall be placed higher than other stars that are currently worn;
3) The sash of another decoration
may be worn simultaneously with the collar. In this case, the star that belongs
to the decoration shall be worn after the star of the collar;
4) On festive occasions that
require the wearing of decorations but do not require the wearing of a collar,
the owners of a collar shall wear the sash of the collar together with the
corresponding star, placing the star above all other stars that are currently
worn.
14.
If several decoration stars are worn simultaneously, the following guidelines
shall be taken as a basis:
1) If two decoration stars are worn
simultaneously, they shall be fixed one above the other, the star of the higher
decoration placed higher (figure 1 pos.3);
2) If three decoration stars
are worn simultaneously, the star of the highest decoration shall be fixed above
the two stars that are set side by side (figure 2 pos. 1);
3) If four decoration stars
are worn simultaneously, the fourth star that complements the three stars shall
be fixed below the two stars that are set side by side (figure 2 pos.2);
4) No more than four
decoration stars can be worn simultaneously.
15. Wearing
the 1st class decoration, the following guidelines shall be taken as a basis:
1) The 1st class decoration
shall always be worn with the corresponding star, while the sash shall be worn
on the waistcoat;
2) On a uniform, the sash shall be
worn diagonally over the right shoulder and the left hip, placed under the
shoulder strap and the belt;
3) The owner of several 1st class
decorations shall wear only one sash, placing the star of the respective
decoration above all other stars that are currently worn.
16. Wearing
the 2nd and 3rd class decorations, the following guidelines shall be taken as a
basis:
1) The 2nd class decoration
shall always be worn with the corresponding star;
2) Wearing a dress suit, the
decoration that is worn at the collar shall be placed as high as possible under
the horizontal knot of the necktie, the ribbon of the decoration covering a part
of the necktie around the collar;
3) Wearing a uniform or a dark suit
in combination with a dress shirt with turndown collar and a long necktie, the
ribbon of the decoration that is worn at the collar shall be placed under the
collar, the collar cross (coat of arms) positioned as high on the necktie as
possible;
4) As a rule, the owner of several
2nd or 3rd class decorations shall wear only one decoration of this class at a
time, placing the star belonging to the 2nd class decoration higher than all
other stars of the same class that are currently worn;
5) As an exception, two decorations
that are worn at the collar may be worn when wearing the 1st rank Cross of
Liberty, placing the Cross of Liberty higher than the other decoration at the
collar.
17. 4th and 5th class decorations shall be worn in the order of
classes so that the upper edge of the decoration ribbon is located 1 cm below
the buttonhole of the coat lapel. Several breast decorations may be worn
attached to a plate joining the decoration ribbons.
18. Iron crosses of the Cross of the Eagle and decoration medals
shall be worn in the same way as decorations of the 4th and 5th class, yet they
should be placed after the latter.
19. Decorations may be worn in miniature attached to a
plate on the left lapel of the dress suit or dinner jacket.
20. A rosette badge or a ribbon shall be worn in the buttonhole
of the left coat lapel.
21. A ribbon may be worn on a uniform
as an attribute of the decoration.
Ribbons shall be attached to the
left flap of the uniform jacket as follows:
1) Up to 4 ribbons in one
row;
2) 5 ribbons in two rows: 2 in the upper, 3 in
the lower;
3) 6 ribbons in two rows: 2 in the upper, 4 in the
lower;
4) 7 ribbons in two rows: 3 in the upper, 4 in the
lower;
5) 8 ribbons in two rows: 4 in the upper, 4 in the lower;
6) 9 ribbons in three rows: 1 in the upper, 4 in
both lower rows;
7) 10 ribbons in three
rows: 2 in the upper, 4 in both lower rows.
Rows
of ribbons shall be positioned on the uniform jacket so that the lower row is 2
cm above the upper edge of the left breast pocket. Ribbons shall be arranged
from the right to the left and from top to bottom according to the rules of
sequence between decorations and decoration classes.
22. The
orders and decorations of institutions and organisations that have been
officially approved and registered in Estonia shall be worn according to their
statutes on public holidays and on the festive occasions of the respective
institution on the left side of the breast after state decorations or on the
right side of the breast. The collar cross of institutions and organisations may
be worn if the collar cross of a state decoration is not worn simultaneously.
WEARING
OF FOREIGN ORDERS AND DECORATIONS
23. Foreign orders and
decorations shall be worn as prescribed by their constitution or statutes,
taking into account the exceptions provided for in this procedure.
24.
Foreign orders and decorations shall be generally worn only on festive occasions
related to the specific foreign country. As an exception, citizens of Estonia
may wear on common bases with Estonian decorations the foreign battle crosses,
lifesaving medals, orders and decorations that have been awarded while serving a
foreign country with the permission of the Government of the Republic.
25.
Wearing foreign orders and decorations simultaneously with Estonian decorations,
the following guidelines shall be taken as a basis:
1) Estonian
decorations shall be placed in front of foreign orders and decorations
irrespective of their class;
2) Generally, foreign orders and decorations shall be positioned in the
sequence of their classes, and decorations of the same class shall be placed in
the alphabetical order of the names of countries in French. As an exception,
foreign battle crosses may be placed before other foreign orders and decorations
irrespective of their class.
26.
To pay special tribute to a foreign country, the decorations of this country may
be worn above all other foreign decorations irrespective of their class, whereas:
1) The owner of a collar or a 1st class decoration shall wear a
foreign collar or a sash and a star, yet an Estonian decoration star shall be
placed higher than the latter;
2) The owner of a 2nd class decoration shall wear the collar cross
and star of a foreign decoration, yet an Estonian decoration star shall be
placed higher than the latter;
3) The owner of an Estonian 3rd class decoration and a foreign 2nd class
decoration shall wear the collar cross of the Estonian decoration and only the
star of the foreign decoration;
4) The
owner of an Estonian 3rd class decoration and a foreign 3rd class decoration
shall wear only the collar cross of the foreign decoration.
TYPES
OF DECORATIONS
Pursuant to the State Decorations Act, Estonia has the following state
decorations (orders):
1) Order of the National Coat of Arms (fig. 9) awarded
exclusively to Estonian citizens as the highest reward for merit to the country.
2) Order of the White Star (fig. 10) awarded to Estonian citizens in
recognition of public service or service in a local government or to foreigners
for merit to the Estonian country.
3) Order of the Cross of the Eagle (fig. 11) awarded in recognition
of military and defence services.
4) Order of the Estonian Red Cross (fig. 12) awarded in recognition
of generally useful humanitarian service for the benefit of the Estonian nation
and for lifesaving.
5) Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (fig. 13) conferred on the
President of the Republic or on a foreigner as the highest reward for
exceptional merit to the Republic of Estonia.
6)
The Cross of Liberty military award granted from 1919 to 1925 in honour of
service during the War of Liberation. The Cross of Liberty may be awarded again
in case of a war aiming to protect the independence of Estonia.
CLASSES
OF DECORATIONS
1)
The Order of the National Coat of Arms comprises six classes:
One special class the Collar of the National Coat of Arms;
Five basic classes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class;
2)
The Order of the White Star comprises seven classes:
One special class the Collar of the Order of the White Star;
Five basic classes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class;
One medal class;
3)
The Order of the Cross of the Eagle comprises eight classes:
Five basic classes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class;
Three medal classes gold, silver and iron cross.
The Order of the Cross of the Eagle that is awarded for military services
is supplemented with two crossed swords.
4)
The Order of the Estonian Red Cross comprises six classes:
Five basic classes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class;
One medal class;
5)
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana comprises six classes:
One special class the Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana;
Five basic classes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th class.
In addition to the collar, the set of the collar of a decoration includes
a breast star and a 1st class decoration sash with a cross (coat of arms) worn
over the shoulder.
The set of the 1st class decoration includes a breast star and a sash
with a cross (coat of arms) worn over the shoulder.
The set of the 2nd class decoration includes a breast star and a cross
(coat of arms) of a decoration that is worn suspended by a ribbon at the collar
(ladies wear it bound to the breast with a horizontal knot).
The 3rd class decoration is a cross (coat of arms) of a decoration worn
suspended by a ribbon at the collar (ladies wear it bound to the breast with a
horizontal knot).
The 4th class decoration is a cross (coat of arms) of a decoration worn
on the breast, the ribbon bearing a round sign.
The 5th class decoration is a cross (coat of arms) with a ribbon worn on
the breast.
The medal of a decoration is a round medal with a ribbon worn on the
breast.
ROSETTE
BADGE, MINIATURE AND RIBBON
OF
A DECORATION
(fig.
14)
1) The rosette badge of a decoration is a rosette with 8 mm diameter
in the same colour as the ribbon of the decoration, placed on different bases as
follows:
The 1st class rosette is on a golden base;
The 2nd class rosette base is golden on the right side and silver on the left
side;
The 3rd class rosette is on a silver base.
The rosette base is 6 mm high and 14 mm wide.
The rosette badge of a 4th class decoration is a rosette without a base.
The attribute of a 5th
class decoration or medal class is a decoration ribbon 3 mm in height.
2) The
miniature of a decoration is an exact minimised copy of its 5th class decoration
with the diameter 17 mm and ribbon width 15 mm. The height of the miniature
together with the ribbon is 50 mm.
The
miniature of the medal class of a decoration is its exact minimised copy with
the same measurements as the miniature of a basic class decoration.
As an attribute of the decoration class, the rosette badge of the
respective class is fixed 10 mm above the lower edge of the ribbon of a
miniature decoration.
3) The
ribbon of a decoration is a base that is 10 mm high and 35 mm wide, covered with
the ribbon of the respective decoration, to which the rosette badge signifying
the class of the decoration is attached.
AWARDING
OF DECORATIONS
Decorations
shall be awarded by the President of the Republic in accordance with law to
Estonian citizens or foreigners for merit to the Estonian country and nation. A
decoration may be awarded to a unit of army for battle services.
Decorations
may be awarded posthumously.
Decorations
are regularly awarded once a year on 24 February, the Independence Day.
As
an exception, decorations may be awarded and delivered at other times pursuant to the procedure provided by law
if this is due to a state visit of the President of the Republic or a state
visit to Estonia or if a diplomat accredited to Estonia leaves the country at
the end of his or her tenure and also if the decoration is awarded posthumously
or in connection with an emergency situation.
During
an emergency situation or a state of war the President of the Republic may award
decorations on his or her own initiative or on a persons proposal submitted
pursuant to the procedure established by the Government of the Republic.
Figure
9. ORDER OF THE NATIONAL COAT OF ARMS
1. The Collar of the Order of the National Coat of Arms
(collar + gold star + sash of the 1st class decoration).
2.
The 1st class Order of the National Coat of Arms (sash + silver star).
3. The 2nd class
Order of the National Coat of Arms (with a silver star).
4.
The 3rd class Order of the National Coat of Arms.
5.
The 4th class Order of the National Coat of Arms.
6.
The 5th class Order of the National Coat of Arms.
Figure
10. ORDER OF THE WHITE STAR