Mari - Definition and Overview

This article is about a Volga-Finnic people. See also Mari, Syria, Anbotoko Mari and Mari, Greece, a village in Laconia.

The Mari (also known as Cheremis in Russian and Çirmeş in Tatar) are a Volga-Finnic people in the Volga area, the natives of Mari El, Russia.

The total population of the Mari is 670,900 (1989), 324,400 of whom are in Mari El, and 19,500 in Tatarstan.

The Mari speak two closely related Mari languages: Meadow Mari (марий йылме) and Hill Mari (мары йӹлмы). The languages can be divided further into dialects, including Eastern, and Northern-Western dialects.

Most Maris are Christians (converted in the 16th century by Ivan Grozny), while some are of the Marla faith, Christianity with a significant addition of pre-Christian elements.

See also

• Mari El
• Mari language