Estonia's St. Martin's and St. Catherine's traditions await UNESCO decision

Estonia's centuries-old St. Martin's Day (mardipäev) and St. Catherine's Day (kadripäev) customs have been nominated for UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A committee meeting in China will decide the matter in early December. The Estonian Folklore Council (EFN) is leading the nomination.

On Monday evening, St. Martin's Eve (mardilaupäev), costumed mardid went door to door in Tallinn's Old Town to draw attention to the bid. They also visited the Estonian government on Toompea Hill, where they entered Stenbock House to sing, do cartwheels in front of the prime minister, tell riddles and perform other traditional antics. They also wished Prime Minister Kristen Michal good luck.

"He's a good lad who needs strength and energy, and could use a switch as well," said one mart, explaining that the bundle of birch twigs was a health-boosting switch. Another said they were hopeful, comparing the tradition to the smoke sauna, which is already on the list.

A dialogue between guests and hosts

Laura Liinat, a Cultural Heritage Department adviser at the Ministry of Culture, said the chances look good, though she would not predict the outcome. She said the tradition's value lies not only in the mardid and kadrid keeping the custom of dressing up and visiting homes alive, but also in the interaction between the costumed visitors and the people who welcome them.

"It's a two-way dialogue, and the hosts who receive the mardid and kadrid play just as important a role," Liinat said. In her view, the way people welcome the visitors may reflect how they treat one another.

St. Martin's Day falls on November 10, and much like Halloween, the costumed marts traditionally make their rounds the night before. Kadrid do the same on kadrilaupäev, St. Catherine's Eve, on November 24.