In Photos: Ethnic Kryashens Celebrate Pitrau Folk Festival in Tatarstan

This year’s Pitrau festival came and went in the republic of Tatarstan. Celebrated by the Kryashens, an Orthodox Christian ethnic sub-group of the Volga Tatars, the holiday has a deep folk and religious meaning.

While Pitrau is largely to observe the Day of Saints Peter and Paul, the festival also has pre-Christian roots. The day doubles as a celebration of Kryashen agriculture, marking the coming of autumn and the beginning of the harvest period. For young people, who face weeks of labor in the fields, the day is a final chance to blow off steam before the work begins. Older generations take the opportunity to catch up and renew ties.

Here’s a snapshot of the Pitrau festivities: