Setos (, <!-- Seto -->, , ) are an indigenous Finnic people and linguistic minority that have historically lived in the borderlands between modern day Estonia and Russia. Setos have historically spoken the Seto language and been Orthodox Christians. The Seto language (like Estonian and Finnish) belongs to the Finnic group of the Uralic language family. Since the early 2000s, the Setos have sought greater recognition, rather than having their language considered a dialect of Estonian. Eastern Orthodox Christianity, with influences from local folk religions is widely practiced by the Seto peoples.

The ancestral homes of many Setos can be found to the south of Lake Peipus, in the Setomaa region. After 1991 however, this territory was divided between the newly independent Estonia (Põlva and Võro counties) and the north-western sections of the Russian Federation (Pechorsky District of Pskov Oblast).

Ethnic history

thumb|A Seto wedding in [[Värska in 1912. The bride and groom are dressed in traditional period wedding attire.]]

thumb|Attendants of the 1912 Värska wedding in traditional Seto dress.

The definitive origin of the Seto people is unknown to researchers, only that they first emerged in Setomaa around the Piusa River. This was an area that was an intersection between the Finnic peoples and the Balts.

During the 13th century, the majority of Estonians along the coasts were converted to Catholicism during the Livonian Crusade led by the Teutonic Order. During this time, the majority of Setos lived under the Novgorod Republic and remained followers of their native Finnic religion. Over the next two hundred years, the Setos were converted to Orthodox Christianity due to the influence from the neighboring Slavic states, but incorporated elements of their earlier pre-Christian religion. An early prevailing belief of the origin of the Seto community was that they were ethnic Estonians who had migrated east and adopted Orthodox Christianity under the influence of the Novgorod Republic. Seto <!-- Seto --> is usually performed by women, During the Seto Kingdom Day celebration, the winning lead singer of a <!-- Seto --> group is awarded the title Mother of Song. (<!-- Seto -->, comprising the communes of Mikitämäe, Värska, Meremäe and Misso) publishes the newspaper Setomaa, partly in the Seto language, partly in Estonian.

Also, every year, the Seto choose a steward of King Peko (<!-- Seto --> or <!-- Seto -->) for the so-called Kingdom of Setomaa at the annual celebration of the Day of the Kingdom (<!-- Seto -->), a local festival that rotates among the bigger Seto villages. The office is largely ceremonial and has been held by local activists, politicians, entrepreneurs and scholars. The tradition was initiated by , an ethnic Seto and a researcher of Seto folk songs and traditional vocal polyphony (<!-- Seto -->) at the University of Tartu.

Religion

The Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery in Petseri has been an important religious and communal center for the Seto peoples. Since medieval times the monastery has owned much of the land and the Seto Churches in the region leading many Seto peasants to view the monastery as the economic and theological center of their community.

Genetics

Based on 56 samples, the most common mtDNA haplogroup for Setos is H, as 42.9 percent of them belong to it. 33.9 percent of Setos have the haplogroup U, and its most frequently found subclade is U5. Less common mtDNA haplogroups include J, T and V.

See also

  • Seto language
  • Võro language
  • Karelians
  • Skolt Sámi

References

  • Eichenbaum, K.; Pajusalu, K. (2001): Setode ja võrokeste keelehoiakutest ja identiteedist. - Keel ja Kirjandus nr 7, lk. 483-489.
  • Eller, K. (1999): Võro-Seto language. Võro Instituut. Võro.

Further reading

; Folktale collections:

  • Photo essay by BBC News - "In pictures: The Seto people, a border people"
  • "Seto Culture in Setumaa" on visitestonia.com
  • Picture Stories on National Geographic - A Fairytale Kingdom Faces Real-Life Troubles by Jérémie Jung and Eve Conant
  • Folktales from the Setomaa region from the collection of Hendrik Prants (et) (In Estonian)