The Mari people are the native group, documented as the last surviving Pagans of Europe. Their religious rituals are regarded as harmonious devotion to nature and are at the core of their traditional and enduring practices.
The Mari people are present in the Eastern European plain of Russia in the Mari El Republic, just about 850km east of Moscow, and one of the 85 federal states within Russia. Europe's largest river the Volga runs through their land and the Mari people define themselves by their unique and intimate connection with nature. They are of Finno-Ugric origin and exist in two distinct groups known as highlanders and lowlanders. Both groups speak different languages and live in specifically distinct regions, however, they are one in the practice of the same rituals under the same Pagan belief system.
Daily Mail reported that although most Mari was Christianised during Russia's development and Sovietization, some locals have preserved a dual faith and still practice pagan customs such as Mummering and black and white magic in their worship of nature. Even though most Maris became members of the Russian Orthodox church during the Soviet era, many kept their pagan traditions. This steered to clandestine witchcraft and other rituals surviving in Mari villages.
The Mari people's paganism carefully connects people and nature. To them, nature is perceived as a source of absolute good, and as long as it is fully encompassed, there will always be that something that will always help the individual. According to The Guardian, Mari people believe in keremets, they believe that human being is half-men, half-gods. The pleasant religious zeal to nature spreads to the community's dealings with animals. Some animals, such as geese, are seen as important in Mari mythology.
The pagan ritual happens in various sacred groves in the summer and autumn, and locals bring banquets as sacrifices for their gods. The Mari people separately come to the sacred grove to pray, particularly in times of distress, and tie towels to the branches of the holy wood. At present, there is a lack of interest in reviving Mari's traditions and language amongst generally Russianised generations. This casts a shadow on the future of Mari's old belief and traditions.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
