Estonia seeks UNESCO recognition for ancient winter traditions

The Estonian Folklore Council submitted a nomination to include the country's centuries-old mardipäev and kadripäev traditions on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

A committee meeting in China will decide the outcome in early December. To promote the nomination, a group of people dressed as mardid visited Tallinn's Old Town on St. Martin's Eve.

These performers visited the Estonian government on Toompea Hill to perform traditional antics, such as singing and telling riddles, and to bless Prime Minister Kristen Michal with a bundle of birch twigs intended to boost health. Laura Liinat of the Ministry of Culture's Cultural Heritage Department stated that the tradition relies on a two-way dialogue between the costumed visitors and the people who welcome them into their homes. The mardid traditionally make their rounds on the night before St.

Martin's Day on November 10, while kadrid follow suit on St. Catherine's Eve on November 24.