Socio – cultural existence of modern East Mary subethnos

Abstract

The article deals with the history, traditions and way of life of sub-ethnic group of the Finno-Ugric tribes –the Eastern Maris, who are considered the "last pagans of Europe". Using specific ethnographic material, scientific and popular-scientific works, the authors showed the unique culture of the Eastern Maris sub-ethnos, pagan beliefs, preserved to date and reflecting people’s social existence, beauty of the traditions and essential national characteristics. The authors draw a conclusion that the Eastern Maris present an independent sub-ethnos tending to self-reproduction. Being amidst the powerful Slavic and Turkic civilizations, the Eastern Marian sub ethnos managed to maintain its national self-identity with some borrowings from neighboring cultures.