Evdokiia Yaganova talks about the Lauten grass

15:52 - 22:15

"They use lauten grass for the Ololo festival, but only the thin blades. They keep them thin so there’s enough for everyone. When they bring the tree inside, the grass is tied to it. The whole village comes to the Ololo festival, so everyone needs to have lauten grass. In the past, children would bring this grass to the Ololo festival. And when hunters go hunting, they have to take it with them. So I told Leshka (my grandson): ‘Take this grass with you to the mountain. Leave some there so the hunt will be successful.’ I always give this grass to my grandson. During the Ololo festival, they tie this grass to the tree or weave it into seal figures. They use it this way to send off the souls of the seals." (Subtitles ☸︎ + cc)

Recorded by Erich Kasten. Lesnaya, 2012.