Estonian Neopaganism, or the Estonian native faith (Estonian: maausk, literally "Land faith"),[1] is the name, in English, for a grouping of contemporary revivals (often called "Neopagan", although adherents of Estonian native religion generally do not use the term[2]) of the indigenousPagan religion of the Estonian people.
The Jumiõis, symbol of Taaraism and Maausk used as the official logo of Maavalla Koda.
It encompasses Taaraism (Estonian: taarausk literally "Taara Faith"),[3] a monistic religion centered on the god Tharapita founded in 1928 as a national religion; and maausk[3] as a much broader definition of "Native Faith", encompassing grassroots movements devoted to the worship of local gods, nature worship and earth worship.[2] Both kinds of movements are administered by the Maavalla Koda organization. According to Ahto Kaasik, an unspecified 2002 survey revealed that 11% of the population of Estonia claimed that "out of all the religions they have the warmest feelings towards Taaraism and Maausk".[4][dubious – discuss]
Taaraism was founded in 1928 by members of the intelligentsia, including soldier Kustas Utuste [et] and writer Marta Lepp, with the aim of reaffirming traditional Estonian culture and identity. Viewing Christianity as a universal and foreign religion brought by the Germans, they turned to indigenous religion with its many deities.[4]
They re-established the hiis, sacred groves, and coined the term hiislar to denote their clergy. The first hiis was founded in 1933, it was Tallinna Hiis (Sacred Grove of Tallinn).[4] There were several thousand members by 1940, but later the movement was banned under the Soviet Union, and many members were killed.[4] Nowadays the foremost center of the Taaraists is in the city of Tartu.[5]
Maausk
Maausk ("Native Religion") is an activist movement of nature worship, the worship of local gods and hiis unrelated to the Taaraist movement. It stresses the claimedly non-Christian and non-European roots and tradition of Estonian culture. The Maausk movement emerged in the 1980s. It's mostly a polytheistic-pantheistic faith identifying the divine with nature itself.[2] In their annual cyclic calendar the most important holy days are the Jõulud (winter solstice festival) and the Jõulukuu (new year festival) on 25 December, the summer solstice (Jaanipäev), the Munadepühad, the Leedopäev, and the Kasupäev.[6]
Their shrines are hiis or other natural sites, preferably traditional sacrificial, healing and other sacred sites of the Estonian folk religion. A shrine is a location which may have ancient trees, glacial boulders, bodies of water or unique plants. There may be a swing, fireplace, sauna and a log storage shed at the shrine. People go to various shrines during important festivals or other important occasions, to establish harmony with nature, experience peace and gather strength. Before going to the shrine, body and mind must be purified.[7] Their ethics emphasises mõnu or mõnus, "enjoyment" or more accurately "harmonious life" or "balance".[8]
Jüri Toomepuu. Maausk, the belief system of indigenous Estonians. Presentation at KLENK 2011, published on January 7, 2012. St. Petersburg, Florida.
References
^Maavalla Koda. Estonian House of Taara and Native Religions.
^ abcJüri Toomepuu. Maausk, the belief system of indigenous Estonians. Presentation at KLENK 2011, published on January 7, 2012. St. Petersburg, Florida.
^ abEllen Barry for The New York Times . Some Estonians return to pre-Christian animist traditions. Quote: «Craving an authentic national faith, Estonians have been drawn to the animistic religions that preceded Christianity: Taarausk, or Taaraism, whose god was worshiped in forest groves, and Maausk, which translates as "faith of the earth".»
^ abcdeAhto Kaasik. Old Estonian Religion 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine. Maavalla Koda.
^Monika Hanley. Baltic diaspora and the rise of Neo-Paganism. The Baltic Times, 2010.
Media related to Estonian Native Religion at Wikimedia Commons
Maavalla Koda
January 04, 2023
estonian, neopaganism, estonian, neopaganism, estonian, native, faith, estonian, maausk, literally, land, faith, name, english, grouping, contemporary, revivals, often, called, neopagan, although, adherents, estonian, native, religion, generally, term, indigen. Estonian Neopaganism or the Estonian native faith Estonian maausk literally Land faith 1 is the name in English for a grouping of contemporary revivals often called Neopagan although adherents of Estonian native religion generally do not use the term 2 of the indigenous Pagan religion of the Estonian people The Jumiois symbol of Taaraism and Maausk used as the official logo of Maavalla Koda It encompasses Taaraism Estonian taarausk literally Taara Faith 3 a monistic religion centered on the god Tharapita founded in 1928 as a national religion and maausk 3 as a much broader definition of Native Faith encompassing grassroots movements devoted to the worship of local gods nature worship and earth worship 2 Both kinds of movements are administered by the Maavalla Koda organization According to Ahto Kaasik an unspecified 2002 survey revealed that 11 of the population of Estonia claimed that out of all the religions they have the warmest feelings towards Taaraism and Maausk 4 dubious discuss Contents 1 Religions 1 1 Taaraism 1 2 Maausk 2 See also 3 Resources 4 References 5 External linksReligions EditTaaraism Edit Taaraism was founded in 1928 by members of the intelligentsia including soldier Kustas Utuste et and writer Marta Lepp with the aim of reaffirming traditional Estonian culture and identity Viewing Christianity as a universal and foreign religion brought by the Germans they turned to indigenous religion with its many deities 4 Taaraists hold a monistic or monotheistic worldview in which all the gods are aspects of one only pantheistic reality which they identify with the god Tharapita or Taara a deity connected to Indo European deities such as the Germanic Thor or Thunor the Gallic Taranis and the Hittite Tarhunt 4 They re established the hiis sacred groves and coined the term hiislar to denote their clergy The first hiis was founded in 1933 it was Tallinna Hiis Sacred Grove of Tallinn 4 There were several thousand members by 1940 but later the movement was banned under the Soviet Union and many members were killed 4 Nowadays the foremost center of the Taaraists is in the city of Tartu 5 Maausk Edit Maausk Native Religion is an activist movement of nature worship the worship of local gods and hiis unrelated to the Taaraist movement It stresses the claimedly non Christian and non European roots and tradition of Estonian culture The Maausk movement emerged in the 1980s It s mostly a polytheistic pantheistic faith identifying the divine with nature itself 2 In their annual cyclic calendar the most important holy days are the Joulud winter solstice festival and the Joulukuu new year festival on 25 December the summer solstice Jaanipaev the Munadepuhad the Leedopaev and the Kasupaev 6 Their shrines are hiis or other natural sites preferably traditional sacrificial healing and other sacred sites of the Estonian folk religion A shrine is a location which may have ancient trees glacial boulders bodies of water or unique plants There may be a swing fireplace sauna and a log storage shed at the shrine People go to various shrines during important festivals or other important occasions to establish harmony with nature experience peace and gather strength Before going to the shrine body and mind must be purified 7 Their ethics emphasises monu or monus enjoyment or more accurately harmonious life or balance 8 See also EditEstonian mythology Uralic neopaganism Finnish Neopaganism Mari Neopaganism Mordvin Neopaganism Udmurt VosResources EditJuri Toomepuu Maausk the belief system of indigenous Estonians Presentation at KLENK 2011 published on January 7 2012 St Petersburg Florida References Edit Maavalla Koda Estonian House of Taara and Native Religions a b c Juri Toomepuu Maausk the belief system of indigenous Estonians Presentation at KLENK 2011 published on January 7 2012 St Petersburg Florida a b Ellen Barry for The New York Times Some Estonians return to pre Christian animist traditions Quote Craving an authentic national faith Estonians have been drawn to the animistic religions that preceded Christianity Taarausk or Taaraism whose god was worshiped in forest groves and Maausk which translates as faith of the earth a b c d e Ahto Kaasik Old Estonian Religion Archived 2011 08 11 at the Wayback Machine Maavalla Koda Monika Hanley Baltic diaspora and the rise of Neo Paganism The Baltic Times 2010 Juri Toomepuu p 5 Juri Toomepuu p 6 Juri Toomepuu p 7 External links Edit Media related to Estonian Native Religion at Wikimedia Commons Maavalla Koda Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Estonian neopaganism amp oldid 1122295746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
