Mari holiday Shorykyol

An attribute of the festival is the procession led by Vasli kugyza – grandfather Vasily (sometimes also known as Vasli kuva – grandmother, grandfather’s wife), who predicts the next agricultural year, as well as songs, walking from house to house, fortune-telling, abundant food, various rites, prayers, magical actions. The festival is held to ensure economic and family prosperity, and to increase the yield of fields and livestock in the new year.

The traditional celebrations were recreated across Mari El by participants of folklore groups. The holiday was held in Yoshkar-Ola on 7 January, in the village of Kuchko Pamash on 13 January. The main organiser of the holiday in Mari El was the Republican Centre of Mari Culture.