Setos (
setoq) are an
autochthonous ethnic and linguistic minority in south-eastern
Estonia and north-western Russia. Setos are mostly Seto-speaking
Orthodox Christians of Estonian nationality. Their dialect, that some consider an independent language - the
Seto language (like
Finnish and
Estonian) belongs to the Balto-
Finnic group of the
Finno-Ugric languages. Seto is in search of more recognition, being traditionally considered a dialect of Estonian. Along with Orthodox Christianity, vernacular traditional
folk religion is also widely known and supported among Setos.
There are approximately 10,000 Setos all around the world. The bulk of Setos, however, are found in the Seto region (
Seto:
Setomaa), which is divided between south-eastern
Estonia (
Põlva and
Võro counties) and north-western
Russian Federation (
Pskov Oblast). Setos are an officially protected ethnic minority of
Pskov Oblast.
The culture of Setos blossomed in early 20th century when many national societies of Setos were working. In 1905 the number of Setos reached maximum. After the proclamation of independence of Estonia its authorities adopted policy of Estonification of its population which eventually lead to virtual disappearance of Setos as distinct linguistic entity of Estonia. In Russia due to influence of Estonian language schools, high rate of mixed marriages, and emigration to Estonia the number of Setos drastically decreased as well.
The border question
Prior to A.D. 600 the whole of Setomaa was within the vast northern Finnic lands of the indigenous Finno-Ugric peoples. After A.D. 600 Slavic tribes migrated northeast, into Finno-Uralic and Finno-Ugric lands: These lands included portions of Greater Livonia-Estonia that are now Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Kaliningrad (former Samland), and far northeastern Germany. During this migration north the Slavic tribes interbred with several Finnic and Finno-Uralic tribes in the southern habitation areas of the indigenous Finnics and Finno-Uralics. The first significant event that separated Setos from Estonians was forced conversion of the latter into
Catholicism in the 13th century, while Setos who lived in
Novgorod Land remained
pagans. In the 15th century Setos were converted into
Orthodox Christianity but kept vernacular beliefs. Later elements of Catholic culture were brought to Setos by Estonian colonists, while in Estonia itself they eventually nearly disappeared after the
Lutherification of Estonia. With the
peace treaty of Tartu, the area Setomaa (Setoland) was ceded to the newly created
Republic of Estonia and it was included into
Petseri County (
Petserimaa). As a result of
World War II, the Republic of Estonia was forcefully annexed to the
Soviet Union. And in the years after the war, the border between the
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic and the
Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic was revised by Moscow authorities to what it is now. The issue became topical as the Republic of Estonia was restored in the borders of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991 and a national border was established soon afterwards. The establishment of the border brought about the division of Setomaa between two countries for the first time in history.
Representative organisations
The Seto Congress, a body comprising representatives of Seto villages and organisations, is regularly convened every three years and elects a permanent Council of Elders. The Society for Seto Congress is a member of the Estonian
Bureau for Lesser Used Languages.
The (
Setomaa Valdade Liit, comprising the communes of , , and ) publishes , partly in the
Seto, partly in
Estonian.
See also
