TITLE: Estonian Sandid Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Europe
COUNTRY: Estonia
SUBREGION: N/A
ETHNICITY: Estonian
DESCRIPTION: Sandid Mask
CATALOG ID: N/A
MAKER: N/A
CEREMONY: Santime (Mardipäev; Kadripäev)
FUNCTION: Agriculture; Celebration; Entertainment; Protection/Purification
AGE: N/A
MAIN MATERIAL: leather and wool
OTHER MATERIALS: N/A

Estonia has several forms of masquerade, all involving mumming rituals known as sandid (vagrants). On St. Martin’s Day (November 10), the Mardipäev celebration features Mardisandid, who wear dark, masculine, “ugly” masks of birch bark, fur, or wool. They represent spirits of the earth and harvest, and are intended to promote agriculture. On St. Catherine’s Day (Nov. 25), the Karidpäev celebration features Kadrisandid, who wear white, feminine, and “beautiful” measks to celebrate the arrival of snowy winter. In addition, winter celebrants may wear animal masks while singing, telling riddles and jokes, and otherwise performing to bring good fortune and a bountiful harvest to the villages.

The Museum’s collection currently includes no representative example of any Estonian mask.