Mari El Flag No Longer Being Flown at Schools in that Middle Volga Republic

One of the most important symbols of the non-Russian republics, their own distinctive flags, is now under attack, so far only in Mari El but supposedly there on orders from Moscow, a report that if true suggests that what has occurred in that Middle Volga republic will soon take place elsewhere.

Kovyzh: Fiddle Music of Mari People

by Tatyana Yamberdova

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Ingrians, Setos and Votes:

historical culture, religious traditions and language

The book focuses on intangible and tangible heritage, language and vernacular religion of the Ingrians, Setos and Votes, three Finnic ethnic minorities sharing a long-standing identification with the Russian Orthodox faith. Written by 16 authors, the chapters are mainly based on nineteenth- and twentieth-century materials. The research history and collecting of folklore are also discussed.

Paganism in Russia Becoming Political Because of Ignorance and Inattention of Authorities

Experts Say

The attention that self-proclaimed Shaman Gabyshev has received for his plans to march on Moscow and the victory of the KPRF over United Russia in Mari El, one of the strongholds of traditional religion in the Russian Federation, have sparked concerns in the Russian capital that paganism is energizing the political opposition.

Tallinn celebrates Ethnic Culture Days

Tallinn will celebrate ‘Ethnic Culture Days’ for the seventh time this month. Events will take place from September 18-26 in the capital.

Russian Nationalist Denounces Adding Karelian to Street Signs in Petrozavodsk as Step toward Secession

The city government of Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Karelian Republic, has begun putting up street signs with names in both Russian and Karelian, even though ethnic Russians form 80 percent of the city’s population and even though Karelian is not a state language in the republic.

“Onaeng” Trailer

Trailer for the film Onaeng (Mari priest) by Andrew Ogorodnikov.

Hill Mari wedding from matchmaking to post-wedding rutes

Mountain Mari are a sub-ethnic group of the small Finno-Ugric Mari people. Most of the mountain Mari live on the land of their ancestors in the mountainous regions of the Republic of Mari El, located in the center of the European part of Russia. Many interesting and distinctive rituals have survived to this day in the traditional culture of this ancient people, one of which is marriage ceremony.

The 1st Finno-Ugric Heritage Tourism Forum

The 1st Finno-Ugric Heritage Tourism Forum will be held on 30 July, 11-16, in Mulgimaa (Estonia). The International forum aims to stimulate exchanges and cooperation between Finno-Ugric tourism entrepreneurs, developers and culture carriers in the field of heritage tourism, including in marketing and product development.

Mari Pagans Seek Registration as All-Russian Religious Organization

But Face Major Obstacles

The Centralized Religious Organization of Mari Traditional Religion is seeking recognition as an all-Russian religious group because so many of its adepts live beyond the borders of the republic, but it faces serious obstacles on that path from some Mari pagans, from republic officials and from Moscow.