A SWARM

28 min. 2010, Estonia

Directed by Aleksei Aleksejev

Photographed by Aleksei Aleksejev

Sound by Koit Pärna

Edited by Aleksei Aleksejev

Produced by Aleksei Aleksejev

World sales/contact: Aleksei Aleksejev,

Madala 11-79, 10315 Tallinn, Estonia

alexeia@tlu.ee

It is estimated that over 20 million people speak the Finno-Urgic languages. The ancestors of Finno-Ugrians have lived in Eastern Europe since the late Stone Age and owned territories from the Baltic Sea to Western Siberia. Bee-keeping has been one of the oldest trades, especially for the native Mari population. The Eastern Maris adopted bee-keeping experiences from the Bashkirs. According to Mari traditions, a host offering his mead, has to sip the cup first. Only then will he give the drink to his guests. In local Mari sepulchres over 1500 years old, full wild-hive-beekeeper equipment was indentified. Rock paintings found in local caves were evidence that honey was collected by primitive man in these locations long time ago.

SÜLEM

Režissöör Aleksei Andrejev

Arvatakse, et soome-ugri keeli kõneleb tänapäeval ca 20 miljonit inimest. Ugrilaste esivanemad elasid Ida-Euroopas juba kiviajast peale ning nende eluruum laius Läänemere ning Lääne-Siberi vahelistel aladel. Üheks maride vanimaks tegevusalaks peetakse mesindust, sellealased teadmised võisid marid saada baškiiridelt. Kuni tänaseni on maridel kombeks enne mõduga täidetud kannu ulatamist kõigepealt sealt ise rüübata. Mesindusega on maridel seotud palju tavasid, mis on tuntud ka naabritel.

Arvatakse, et mesindusega on marid tegelenud üle 1500 aasta, sest nii vanad on kaljujoonised, mis kujutavad seda magusat eluala.