Traditional porridge, kilometer-long dance, and hundreds of lights: how Semyk was celebrated in Tatarstan

      In the Mendeleevsky District of Tatarstan, the Mari culture festival "Semyk" took place

      A bridge between worlds and seasons

      The Mari culture festival "Semyk" was held today in the village of Ilnet in the Mendeleevsky District of Tatarstan. The folk festivities pleasantly surprised guests with their unique rural color: the air was filled with the scent of freshly cut grass, the fences, benches, and swings were made from fresh boards, and throughout the area, agricultural tools served as decorations for the venue. The main thematic line of the festival this year was the creation of a bridge between worlds and seasons through the celebration. Guests of Semyk could sequentially pass through three symbolic stages: "Path of Memory," representing a ritual of honoring ancestors, "Path of Cleansing" – a ritual of washing with morning dew – and "Path of Renewal" in the form of a round dance around a ritual birch tree. The festival area was conveniently divided into sectors: the main stage, tents of craftsmen with handmade goods, a relaxation area and photo zone, a food court, and small houses where guests were told about the history and traditions of Semyk. In addition, there was a children's sector where kids were introduced to ancient games and entertainments. In one corner, a small wooden stage was erected, where the contests "Mari Beauty" and "Mari Hero" took place. A special place at the venue was occupied by the area for preparing traditional porridge in huge cauldrons over an open fire. Its ingredients included wheat groats, meat, onions, and carrots.

      Ritual of honoring ancestors

      As acting director of the local history museum of Mendeleevsk Maria Kharitonova explained, the festival itself represents a ritual of honoring ancestors and asking for their blessings. According to beliefs, on this day, the lord of the afterlife would release the souls of the deceased for remembrance, and they would visit their living relatives. In ancient times, the festival was celebrated for four days – from Monday to Thursday. The first day was dedicated to cleaning so that the deceased would come to a clean house. On the second day, a bath was necessarily heated for the visiting spirits. On the third day, a rich table was laid, with a preference for dishes made from cottage cheese and eggs. On festive Thursday, the entire village would gather in the main square for folk festivities.

      "Passing our traditions from generation to generation"

      According to established tradition, the central event on the main stage was a theatrical prologue, which took place before the official part of the festival. This time it told how our ancestors celebrated Semyk. The plot of the performance intertwined themes of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and the Year of Military and Labor Valor, declared in Tatarstan. "When we say 'great Russia,' we mean almost 150 million residents and 194 peoples and ethnic groups. And when we say 'Republic of Tatarstan' – it is just over four million residents and 175 peoples and ethnic groups. This is the kind of friendly large family we live in, creating, rejoicing, and passing our traditions from generation to generation," said the Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan, Chairman of the National Council of the World Congress of Tatars Vasily Shaikhraziev at the official opening of the festival. According to him, true happiness lies in the ability to gather various peoples and celebrate different holidays together.

      "Preserving the traditions of each people makes us stronger"

      "Semyk is a living generation, memory, respect for roots. This year, the festival takes on special significance, as 2026 has been declared the Year of National Unity in the Russian Federation and the Year of Labor and Military Valor in the Republic of Tatarstan," stated the head of the Mendeleevsky District of Tatarstan Robert Iskandarov at the opening ceremony of the festival. He emphasized that the Mendeleevsky District has always been and remains a territory of peace, harmony, and good neighborliness. Here, representatives of different nationalities and faiths live in friendship, mutual understanding, and respect. "And today's festival once again confirms that preserving the traditions of each people makes us stronger and helps strengthen the unity of our multinational society," added the head of the district. The official part concluded with the presentation of state awards, as well as a mass dance "Mari Eight," symbolizing unity, harmony, and continuity of generations. Almost all the gathered guests participated in the dance, which stretched nearly a kilometer. Then, the concert program began on the main stage, featuring children's and adult creative groups from Tatarstan. At the end of the festival, the "stars of Semyk" were lit – hundreds of lights symbolizing the light coming from ancestors and the unity of generations. Photos: social networks of the Mendeleevsky municipal district

      More news about the event:

      Traditional porridge, a kilometer-long dance, and hundreds of lights: how Semyk was celebrated in Tatarstan

      In the Mendeleevsky District of Tatarstan, the Mari culture festival "Semyk" took place

      A bridge between worlds and seasons

      The Mari culture festival "Semyk" was held today in the village of Ilnet in the Mendeleevsky District of Tatarstan. 18:25 30.05.2026 IA Tatar-inform - Kazan

      In the Mendeleevsky District, the republican festival of Mari culture "Semyk" was held on a grand scale

      The picturesque village of Ilnet became the center of attraction for Mari culture across the country for one day. 15:57 30.05.2026 Mendeleevskie Novosti - Mendeleevsk