karelian

Karelian refers to things connected with Karelia, a historical and cultural region in northeastern Europe that is divided between Finland and Russia. The term can denote the people known as Karelians, the Karelian language, or Karelian culture and artifacts associated with the area.

The Karelians are a Finnic ethnic group native to Karelia. Today they are found mainly in the Republic of Karelia in Russia and in eastern Finland, with communities elsewhere in both countries. The Karelian language, or Karelian, is a Finnic language closely related to Finnish and traditionally spoken in two main dialect groups: North Karelian and South Karelian. Some linguists treat Karelian as a separate language; others classify it as a set of Finnish dialects within a broader Finnic continuum. The language has faced endangerment pressures and varies in usage across generations.

Karelian culture includes folklore, music, crafts, and religious traditions influenced by both Orthodox and Lutheran Christianity. The Kalevala, a foundational epic of Finnish literature, draws on Karelian and broader Finno-Ugric folklore. In cuisine, karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies) is a well-known example of Karelian culinary influence in Finland and beyond.

There are cultural associations and language preservation efforts in both Finland and Russia. The term Karelian also appears in place names, products, and regional identifications tied to Karelia.