Qaratay

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