Local heritage and language preservation and presentation - a field trip to Setumaa, August - OCSEAN Summer School Tartu 2024

To learn about a small linguistically and culturally distinct group, OCSEAN Summer School participants went to a fieldtrip to Setomaa. Escaping the flood of rain in Tartu, Setomaa welcomed the OCSEAN Summer School participants through the voice and knowledge of Helen Külvik, a local guide dedicated to the promotion of her heritage, language and culture.

Setomaa, in the very corner of Southeast Estonia, it has differerent history than the rest of the country. People there are speaking a veriety of South Estonian language, they follow Orthodox rituals but also have their own pre-Cristian traditions retained.

Participants were immersed to the tangible material and intangible Seto culture and traditions through visiting Seto farms, tasting the food, experiencing the national clothes, singing and daces.