Ethnic groups of Russia: Karelians

About 32,000 members of this Finno-Ugric people live in Russia, primarily in the Republic of Karelia. The Karelian ethnic group, in addition to the Karelians themselves, also includes the Livvi and Ludics. They speak distinct dialects of the Karelian language and possess unique traditions in their folklore, customs and traditional dress.

The historical homeland of the Karelians is the Karelian Isthmus. This area frequently served as a battlefield between Russia and Sweden, forcing the local population to seek out more peaceful areas and migrate to neighboring regions. Many Karelians settled deeper within the country; for instance, no less than 3,000 Karelians live in Tver Region today.

For centuries, the Karelians have maintained a tradition of singing ‘runes’ – songs about the creation of the world, epic heroes or the lives of ordinary people. This singing was often accompanied by the ‘kantele’, a traditional Karelian string instrument similar to the Russian ‘gusli’. Today, these ‘runes’ are performed by various folk ensembles.

A hallmark of Karelian cuisine is the ‘kalitka’ – an open-faced rye-flour pastry filled with barley groats that has been soaked in soured milk and mixed with clarified butter. Another popular dish is the ‘sulchina’ – a rye-flour pancake (or flatbread) served with a filling of rice, potatoes, fish or lingonberries.