How did keremet groves serve the Mordvins and Mari?

The term keremet refers to sacred groves used by various Finno-Ugric peoples for religious rituals, rather than being a specific term for the Mordvins alone. Among the Mordvins, these groves served as sites for sacrifices directed toward both celestial deities and night spirits. The choice of grove often depended on the deity being honored: high gods were worshiped in groves of deciduous trees, while lower spirits were associated with fir groves.1

For the Mari (referred to as Cheremis in historical contexts), the keremet served as a strictly regulated space where only the native language was permitted, as the use of foreign speech was believed to offend the deities. These groves were sometimes dedicated to heroic ancestors, and early travelers reported the presence of carved images within them.1

Across these cultures, such groves functioned as protected, hallowed spaces where communities performed annual ceremonies, maintained strict behavioral taboos, and offered prayers to ensure spiritual favor.1