Pilgrim Reindeer in Pisa, 1348
a free multimedia novel by
Thomas A. DuBois, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Pilgrim Reindeer in Pisa, 1348 a free multimedia novel by Thomas A. DuBois, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
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1. Part I Setting Out 22. The Ceremony [October 5, 1347]
I wanted to illustrate in this chapter the rich syncretic mergers of pre-Christian and Christian beliefs that developed in the Finno-Ugric world. Sámi, Finns, and Estonians were removed from the Latin core of the faith by not one but usually two linguistic boundaries. They learned about Christianity through Swedish or German translations of Latin originals, and they often received only minimal instruction in their own languages. As a result, they approached Christianity with the sacred concepts of their pre-Christian religions intact, and these often became reproduced in interesting ways in their ritual practices and seasonal ceremonies. Such seems to be the case with the Peko cult, a fusion of ancient fertility ritual with veneration of St. Peter. I wanted to underscore that Tiiu and Ülo consider themselves fervent Christians, even though they practice a ritual that scholars of a later era would regard as a pagan holdover. For them, Peko was an integrated part of their practice of the Christian faith, and they regard Bávlos's self-identification as a former pagan with wonderment.
