Estonian neopaganism, or the Estonian native faith, spans various contemporary revivals of the indigenous religion of the Estonian people, adapted from their local myths and culture.[1]
Major branches include Taaraism (Estonian: taarausk literally "Taara faith"), a monistic faith based on the god Tharapita founded as a national religion in 1928; and Maausk (Estonian: maausk, literally "land faith"), a much broader umbrella of "Native Faith", encompassing grassroots movements devoted to the worship of local gods, nature worship, and earth religion.[2][1] Both movements are associated with the Maavalla Koda.[3]
A 2002 survey suggested 11% of the population of Estonia claimed having "the warmest feelings towards Taaraism and Maausk" among all religions.[4][dubious – discuss]
A 2021 survey found 3,860 self-declared adherents of Maausk and 1,770 adherents of Taarausk living in Estonia.[5]
- ^ a b Jüri Toomepuu. Maausk, the belief system of indigenous Estonians. Presentation at KLENK 2011, published on January 7, 2012. St. Petersburg, Florida.
- ^ Barry, Ellen (2008-11-09). "Some Estonians return to pre-Christian animist traditions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ Maavalla Koda. Estonian House of Taara and Native Religions.
- ^ Ahto Kaasik. Old Estonian Religion Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine. Maavalla Koda.
- ^ "RL21454: VÄHEMALT 15-AASTASED USU, SOO, VANUSERÜHMA, RAHVUSE JA ELUKOHA (ASUSTUSPIIRKOND) JÄRGI, 31. DETSEMBER 2021". PxWeb (in Estonian). Retrieved 2024-02-09.