Mordvalaisten, tsheremissien ja votjakkien kosinta- ja häätavoista

This concise study offers a rare glimpse into the courtship and wedding customs of three lesser‑known Finno‑Ugric peoples. Drawing on field notes collected during expeditions between 1908 and 1910, the author weaves together linguistic, historical, and ethnographic material to reconstruct how these communities approached marriage. The work is grounded in a scholarly framework approved by the University of Helsinki’s faculty of philosophy.

The first part presents detailed descriptions of each group’s practices—from how a bride is secured, through age expectations and dowry negotiations, to the elaborate rituals that mark engagement, the nuptial journey, and the wedding feast. Comparative tables highlight similarities and differences, while the second section situates these customs alongside those of neighboring peoples, exploring themes such as economic motives, gender roles, and ritual symbolism.

Listeners will appreciate the author’s careful synthesis of archival sources, personal observations, and rare documentary excerpts. The book serves as an engaging portal for anyone curious about how marriage once structured social life in remote Arctic societies, and it illuminates broader patterns of human relationship across cultures.