The Mari State Pedagogical Institute offers the Historical Department of your University to take part in a folklore expedition in the most picturesque part of the Volga river in Russia, the Republic of Mari El.

Its main city is Yoshkar-Ola, which is situated 800 km to the east from Moscow. The nature of the Mari El is favorable for relaxation: there are more then 400 lakes and 200 rivers on its territory of 23.2 thousand square km.

This is the only place in Europe where Christian Orthodox and Pagan religions coexist. The representatives of Pagan religion are the people of Mari, who live on both banks of the Volga river and have ancient rich traditions in rites, folklore and clothes. On certain days they perform their rites in special sacred groves, where they worship. The Maris are divided into several groups with their own languages and very colorful costumes.
This is a completely unexplored corner, the existance of which is closely connected with the history of the migration of the Finno-Ugric peoples.
You will have round-table talks with the scientists of the Mari Research Institute about the history of the land.

Your hosts will be:
The Department of Foreign Languages of the Mari State Pedagogical Institute
The Mari Association of Finno-Ugric Peoples
The Mari Research Institute.

You will be able to visit their homes and participate in their rites (weddings, harvest feasts etc.) try on their ancient costumes, investigate and record their musical folklore, examine their farm implements. Maris are a very hospitable and open people, willingly sharing what they have with other people. Besides Mari people, Russians also live in this region.

Visiting their families in Russian villages, you will be able to see what a real Russian izba is. You will climb a real Russian oven, have tea from a real Russian samovar together with your new Russian and Mari friends and ride a Russian troika.

This is going to be a home-stay program of extensive communication with local population, which will give you the opportunity to watch local life from within. Your hosts will be the families of the students of the department of foreign languages, and you will enjoy their undivided attention. The families will offer you a separate bedroom, breakfast and supper and their own entertaining program.