Setomaa’s Summer Is Full of Events
Text Timo Raussi Photo Sven Začek ja Priidu Saart
In the southeastern corner of Estonia, south of Tartu and Võru and close to the Latvian and Russian borders, lies Setomaa, a culturally very fascinating region. Every year, on the first Saturday of August, the area symbolically declares itself the Kingdom of Setomaa for one day, separate from the Republic of Estonia. It is ruled by the earthly messenger of the mythical supreme deity Peko, the ülemsootska, a cultural ambassador elected from among the Seto people.
The day is major for folk heritage and is a massive public celebration of the Seto people, open to visitors from near and far. Alongside dance, music, and the UNESCO-listed tradition of runic singing, or leelo, the Setos also entertain and involve the audience through competitions that select the best practitioners in various fields such as handicrafts, strength, cooking, and performance.
This year, Kingdom Day will be celebrated on 1 August in Mikitamäe.
A summer full of events beyond Kingdom Day
Setomaa’s event-filled summer is not limited to Kingdom Day, as there is plenty to see and experience throughout the entire tourist season. The regional cultural center has compiled a calendar of more than 50 festivals, Midsummer celebrations, traditional food events, concerts, and folklore events, which can be viewed in a single overview in this Facebook post.
The list actually begins with last night’s Museum Night, but until 29 May there is an exhibition at the Värska Cultural House as part of the 32nd Seto lace-making days, featuring lace-decorated headscarves worn by Seto women. On 24 May, a large summer market will be held in the yard of the same cultural house.
In June, various Midsummer and village celebrations naturally take place in Setomaa’s villages. Due to historical differences between the Gregorian and Orthodox calendars, some Midsummer bonfires can still be attended in early July, the latest even on 10 July in Võõpsu village. On 13 June, the XVI Satserinna Sõir Day will be held at the Saatse Museum, dedicated to sõir, a traditional handmade curd cheese of Southern Estonian food culture.
At the beginning of July, on 4 July, the Great Tractor Show will take place in Treski village centre, followed later in the evening by Midsummer celebrations. On the same weekend, 3–5 July, the “Noorte Molutamise Festival” in the cultural village of Uusvada may sound like youth “idling around,” but it likely refers to a relaxed, chill-style music event.
We already covered the Ostrova Festival on 17–18 July in the summer festival article, but other July highlights include the Obinitsa Village Day on 11 July, a public triathlon event at the Värska spa area on the same day, and at the end of the month in Luhamaa the start of a series of seven “Seto Odyssey” rock musical performances.
In August, following Kingdom Day, the Treski Fest will take place on 7–9 August, and on 8–9 August home cafés across Setomaa will open their doors for Seto Kostipäev. On 14 August, the summer closing celebrations will be held in Võõpsu village.
For those interested in Seto culture and the region, the editorial team warmly recommends this website about the region’s culture, history, customs, events, and sights.
To learn more about this and similar topicscheese events Kingdom Day Midsummer celebrations Setomaa Southern Estonia
