The Souls
Way of life. The Saami used to live with a social class system called sijdda, and their semi-nomadic culture was based on hunting, fishing and reindeer husbandry. Each sijdda consisted of a few families who, under the leadership of a head of the family, enjoyed the same natural resources to live on. Today's sijdda are cooperatives, living from handicrafts and tourism. At the same time, far from renouncing the northern part of their cultural identity, the Saami are increasingly accessing higher education, often marrying northerners and enjoying modern comforts. Although many Saami remain faithful to a certain extent to the traditional way of life, only a minority of them are involved in traditional activities such as forestry and reindeer husbandry, where modern tools such as snow scooters have largely supplanted traditional techniques such as sledding.
Reindeer. Reindeer are still the main source of wealth for the Saami, who have the most sophisticated reindeer husbandry techniques in the Arctic. In Sweden, reindeer husbandry is the exclusive domain of the Sami. Each breeder has a traditional mark made up of a combination of lines and holes cut into the ear of each reindeer. In the past, reindeer were used as beasts of burden, but also for their milk and meat, and for their highly insulating fur. It was used to make clothes and to cover the lavvu, a makeshift tent. Today, reindeer fur is still used for coats, leggings and mittens, which are essential for coping with the cold every day!
A more general vision of the Nordic society...
Temperament. Generally speaking, the inhabitants of northern countries have the reputation of being very quiet. Lapland is no exception to this, and is even the most telling example! The Sami, like others, influenced by the great desert spaces that surround them, have a very different sense of conversation than we do. If there is a conversation, it will be punctuated by pauses and silences, and will never be hurried. The Finns, for example, are said to be a "people who are silent in two languages." Beware, cutting off speech is extremely rude. On the Norwegian coast, in the fishing villages, one finds more talkative locals, long used to the comings and goings of foreigners. In contrast to the Latin countries, the locals' body language is often discreet and hand language is almost non-existent. However, the people are neither cold nor unpleasant, on the contrary! Don't hesitate to start a conversation and to persevere! As far as greetings are concerned, people don't kiss to say hello, they shake or raise their hands for the first meeting and they gladly give each other a hug the next few times. If they let themselves go, they will give a good pat on the back. In the street, the eyes rarely meet and they are very rarely insistent. On the other hand, your interlocutor will stare at you in the eyes during a conversation, proof of his interest.
Civility. Calmness and moderation are the order of the day in Lapland as in the rest of Sweden, Norway and Finland. While the rules are generally very similar to ours, there are a few important details to note. To begin with, strong opinions and corrosive humour are not welcome in the Nordic countries, nor are heated debates. Conflict is avoided at all costs by remaining positive and good-humoured, or even avoiding certain topics. If you are invited to someone's home, remember to take off your shoes when you get home, and remember to thank your hosts after the meal if you have been invited to dinner. Such an oversight would be very badly perceived. In the remote lands of Lapland, trust and carefree attitude reign! Lost objects are found and even if it is not advisable, houses and cars are very rarely locked. This creates a very pleasant feeling of security! Respect also means punctuality. Arriving late without warning is very badly considered. Finally, if the inhabitants are rather reserved, they will not fail to point out your mistakes, so be careful to respect the rules.
Mentality. Even if there is still some progress to be made, Sweden, Norway and Finland are far ahead on the issue of gender equality, and this is no less true in Lapland, whether at work or in family and political life. As far as homosexuality is concerned, it is generally quite well accepted and Lapland is a perfectly safe destination. Gay marriage is allowed in all three countries.
Education. In Lapland too, the child is king. In Sweden, Norway and Finland, the child occupies a central place and everything is adapted to his presence: shops, restaurants, trains, sidewalks, etc. Children are hardly ever reprimanded and no one raises their voice, let alone lays a hand on them! Spanking has been strictly forbidden for many years. All three school systems offer learning based on non-elitism and focused on development and creativity. In the North, young Sami people can attend Sami schools, where their culture and language are taught. These can be found in towns such as Karesuando, Târnaby, Jokkmokk, Gällivare and Kiruna. There is also a Sami University, founded in 1989, on the Norwegian side of Kautokeino.
Sauna and winter swimming
In Lapland, the sauna remains an institution, especially in Finland. "Sauna" is the only Finnish word in the international vocabulary! People go there once a week on average. An extremely healthy habit, the sauna, a dry steam bath, invigorates as much as it relaxes. The traditional saunas, located in the middle of nature, have nothing in common with the substitutes of the big hotels. Experience it for yourself! Be careful, you don't refuse an invitation to the sauna, unless you are ill or modest. Yes, because it is normal to be naked in the sauna, with a towel around you if necessary. Rest assured, saunas are not mixed, although the option is sometimes offered. Another thing: never add water on the embers without having asked the agreement of the participants!
And who says sauna often says winter bath. Bathing in icy water has its followers in Lapland, and it is unthinkable to leave the region without having tried it! In winter, you will see pools of water maintained in the ice of the lakes, which are accessed by a pontoon. It is said that these baths bring immediate vitality and help to better withstand the cold. For those who are a bit chilly, a little roll in the snow will do the trick. A little courage!
