Estonians gathered in the camps to celebrate their national and folk holidays. St Martin's Days and St. Catherine's Day, Candlemas Day, Midsummer's Day, as well as other important dates in the Estonian calendar were celebrated. Christmas and Estonian Independence Day became the most important celebrations. Christmas was organised in the DP camps where there were children, as well as in hospitals or care facilities, to provide some cheer to the compatriot. A Christmas church service took place and they were reminded of Christmas back home.

A political message was carried out at the Independence Day celebrations. For this event, national exhibitions, concerts with a national repertoire were held and patriotic songs were sung. Halls were decorated with the national colours, and a formal ceremony was held for the raising of the tricolour flag. Almost every camp was decorated with outlines of the Tallinn skyline. It was important that each camp be decorated with the Tall Hermann tower, with the tricolour waving. Exiled diplomats from Estonia and the Estonian committees from the larger camps organised a political message and an appeal, which was sent to the leaders of the world's most important countries. Letters gave an overview of the history of the Republic of Estonia, events that occurred during World War II in Estonia and the current state of the unfair situation in the Estonian SSR. The appeals drew the attention of various international organisations, and requested aid and support to restore the pre-war situation.

Spectacularly Estonia's Independence Day celebrations were held in all the major DP camps in 1948, which celebrated 30 years of the establishment of the state of Estonia.