Qaratay

From NativeWiki

Qaratays are an ethnic group within Mordvins in Kamsko-Ustyinsky District, Tatarstan around the village of Mordva Qaratay. They speak the Tatar complemented by Mordvin words, sometimes considered as Qaratay Dialect of Kazan Tatar language. They number nearby 100.

Once they lived in 3 villages, but one of them was drowned by Kuybyshev Reservoir. Another one was re-settled as "unperespective" during the 1950s. The village of Mordva Qaratay stayed the last Qaratay village.

Their ancestors were Finno-Ugric tribes who lived in the territory of today Tatarstan and were assimilated by Volga Bolgars/Tatars between the 8th and 15th centuries. Living around Tatars, they started speaking a Tatar language. Neighbouring Mordvins in the Tetyushsky District however still speak a Finno-Ugric language.

Qaratays were converted to Christianity between the 16th and 18th, although the pre-Christian elements were preserved until the 20th century.

Qaratays have a local saint, Michail the Killed (Ubienny in Russian), who was killed by Qaratays 300 years ago. His house is now regarded as a sacred place.