Sacred Natural Places of Estonia: Regional Aspects

Abstract

The article discusses the sacred natural places of Estonia from a regional perspective, outlining the two main regions - sea-oriented and inland. Regionality is most clearly expressed in the distribution of hiis sites - a phe- nomenon characteristic of sea-related areas. There are also other phenomena bound with specific areas, such as the distribution of natural healing places, farmstead offering places, natural offering places related to the cult of Tonis/ Tennus and cross-signed trees. The Orthodox Setomaa region is a distinctive area due to confessional and cultural factors. Besides presenting a general sur- vey of the sources, the article also touches upon the reasons for the emergence of regional differences, outlining geographical, historical, and confessional factors. Regional differences in sacred natural places greatly correspond to other re- gional peculiarities which can be observed in the traditional popular culture. Sacred natural places exist in different parts of the world and have generally much in common (Bradley 2000: 14-32). The concept of sacredness can be con- nected with most different natural objects: trees, groves, forests, boulders, rocks, stones, caves, springs, rivers, lakes, etc. depending on the local natural conditions in the area. In form and functions the sacred natural places are greatly similar in the whole Eastern Baltic area and such is the situation also within Estonia: sacred trees, stones, and springs are widespread all over the country. When investigating deeper into this seeming uniformity, however, a far more diverse picture with more or less clearly expressed regional peculiarities can be observed. In spite of its small area, the territory of Estonia is not homo- geneous in character. Regional differences exist both concerning the appear- ance of the sacred natural places, as well as in their meanings, names and related traditions. These differences are not of random origin and character but are conditioned by certain geographical and natural preconditions, as well as by historical, cultural, and religious factors. The question of regional varia- tions, however, has not deserved much special attention in former research. In the main general works on Estonian folk religion the sacred natural places