Estonia’s Seto people bolster their centuries-old culture and language with a kingdom for a day

In Mikitamäe, a village nestled in southeastern Estonia, members of the Seto ethnic community transformed the picturesque setting into a symbolic kingdom for a day. As the rhythmic melody of an accordion filled the air, 80-year-old Maime Kapten, a fluent Seto speaker, gracefully moved across the grass field, her traditional embroidered skirt swaying and silver chains and coins jingling around her neck.

This annual event, initiated in 1994, serves as a platform to celebrate and preserve the unique Seto culture and language, which are closely related to Estonian. The idea was conceived by the Setos, whose homeland was divided by the Estonian-Russian border following the Soviet Union’s collapse. Despite being separated by the border, the Seto people have managed to maintain their unique identity through this annual event, which gathers their far-flung community.

The event not only strengthens community bonds but also helps in the preservation of the Seto language, which is spoken by fewer than 200 individuals on the Russian side of the border. While about 25,000 people in Estonia can speak Seto, linguists estimate that only a few thousand use it in their daily lives. The village of Mikitamäe, home to fewer than 3,000 people, became the venue for this year's kingdom day, where men and women in colorful folk costumes gathered, making their presence known through the noise of their traditional silver chains and coins.

Cultural activist Piret Torm-Kriis, 62, explained that the Seto attire holds significance, allowing one to decipher a person's marital status, social activities, and personal life based on their attire.