Spring

For Setos themselves, spring begins quietly, because according to the church calendar, they have to fast for a long time and singing is not allowed. There are an increasing number of outdoor events though, and spring offers Setomaa and its surrounding areas a number of sporting activities: in April, a major orienteering competition called "Peko Spring" is held, as well as the famous Võhandu Marathon. In May, the season of kirmas and village celebrations begins, the beginning of which is held on St. George's Day in Värska. Before that, Easter, the greatest and most sacred Orthodox Christian holiday, is celebrated with a bunch of fun activities in Setomaa, including egg rolling at a special place called the munaloomka. Though not all is green yet, spring is still a good time for hiking, and in April beautiful pasque flowers blossom beneath the branches of pine trees.