Gallery: Setomaa villages create unique flower carpets for traditional holiday
In Estonia, Seto villages keep alive the Feast of the Dormition flower carpet tradition, once centered in Petseri — now cut off by a closed border.
Historically, Setos have lived in an area which is now divided between Russia and Estonia. Petseri, or Pechory, once an Estonian city, is now located in Russia's Pskov Oblast.
In Petseri, the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God is the biggest church holiday of the year, celebrated August 15 — or August 28 on the Gregorian calendar. Locals traditionally made lush flower carpets for the cross procession along the road to Petseri Monastery.
With the eastern border now closed, several villages on the Estonian side of Setomaa, including Mikitamäe and Obinitsa, have continued the tradition, laying intricate patterns of fresh flowers and greenery the night before the Feast.
Mikitamäe resident Piret Kase was the first to bring the Seto custom to the Estonian side. "We had hoped to return to Petseri, but times have changed a lot," she said.
At first, locals were unsure how to make the flower carpets or what they should look like, so each village created its own designs.
"Every year has its own special charm," Kase added.
--
Editor: Aili Vahtla
