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Are you traveling to Scandinavia above the Arctic Circle this winter? The Sami people are the only indigenous people in the European Union. The indigenous Sami people have lived in the Arctic region for thousands of years. Their reindeer herding culture is rich and fascinating. Initially, the Sami people were hunters and gatherers, but later,, they turned to herd reindeer in the 17th century.
The Sami people are divided between four nations: Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Their population is estimated at around 80,000 people, but only about ten percent still practice the traditional reindeer herding full-time in the tundra.
We picked up our four favorite and unique Sami festivals from three countries: Finland, Norway, and Sweden. We recommend adding an authentic stay with our Sami families, making your trip richer. It is well worth the journey!
1. Polar Night Jazz Festival (Kaamosjazz 2024)
Location: Inari-Saariselkä, Finland
Period: November 2024
Do you know what happens in November in Lapland? It is a period of polar night, the opposite phenomenon of the Midnight sun in summer. That means the sun does not rise at all between December and January. So what do the locals do? They head to the Polar Night Jazz Festival in Inari-Saariselkä, Finnish Lapland.
As if jazz music weren’t soothing enough, the Polar Night Jazz Festival occurs in the middle of the “polar night” — meaning you’ll be in darkness the entire time. The magical event will bring together some of the best Finnish performers and local Sami artists.
The Polar Night Jazz event was introduced in Tankavaara Gold Village 40 years ago. Today, the international jazz festival takes place in Saariselkä, Inari, and Karigasniemi restaurants, culture houses, chapels, and even outdoors in the Arctic nature of Finland. The Northern lights dancing in the skies and the snow-covered trees will add to this unique experience in the far North. That's epic!
2. Skabmagovat - Indigenous Peoples' Film Festival
Location: Inari, Finland
Period: 25-28 January 2024
Finland's northernmost film fest, Skabmagovat festival, presents Sami and other indigenous films and supports the Sami language and culture. The Sami and other indigenous peoples' voices are heard in the film and media industry – on the indigenous peoples' terms.
The film festival occurs in Inari, Finland, 320 km north of the Arctic Circle. This small village with fewer than thousands of inhabitants is ideal for the festival as it offers a cozy setting for this international event. You can watch the films in a unique Northern Lights Theater, which is rich in atmosphere. It is made of snow, with the sky as the roof. What a fantastic place to hunt for the northern light if the sky is clear.
You don't need to be constantly freezing as you can also watch films inside the auditoriums of the Siida Sami Museum and the Cultural Center of Sajos. It is the ultimate festival for film lovers! Remember to pack your heaviest jacket.
3. The Jokkmokk Winter market
Location: Jokkmok, Sweden
Period: 1-3, February 2024
This 400-year-old Great Winter Market traces its origins back to 1602, when King Karl IX decreed that market sites should be set up in the north to increase taxes, spread Christianity, and exert greater control over the nomadic Sami.
Today, it’s like a yearly party for Sami traders to make contacts and see old friends. Sami shoes and gloves are made from reindeer hide,, so you can purchase beautiful Sami handicrafts, try food-tasting sessions, listen to folk music, watch parades,, etc.
One essential tip: warm clothing! The temperatures may be as low as 40 Celsius below zero. Proper clothing is essential to enjoy the most out of your market experience. But if you feel cold, you can always go inside and enjoy a hot drink or a meal.
4. Sami Week with Reindeer racing
Location: Tromsø, Norway
Period: 6-11, February .2024
The Sami Week in Tromsø is held annually in connection to the Sami National Day on February 6th, with Norwegian Championships in Lasso Throwing (Saturday 8th) and Reindeer Racing (Sunday 9th). Here, you can see and do a lot of different Sami cultural activities, such as reindeer racing, traditional Sami joik singing, Sami poetry, Sami handicrafts, reindeer meat tasting, and much more!
A must thing to do is to experience the thrills of reindeer racing when reindeer with their coachmen speed down Storgata in the heart of Tromsø! Also, the National Championship in Lasso Throwing takes place on the Sami week at the market square. Sami Week offers a diverse cultural program all over the city and a traditional Arctic market. Make sure you don't miss it while in Norway!
Visit Natives is a travel agency that offers sustainable indigenous experiences in Norway and Tanzania. You can explore the authentic Sami culture and reindeer herding and live the life of the world's last reindeer herders in the Arctic wilderness.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to go to any of these festivals and need help planning! We can help you make arrangements and book a native Sami guide or add these festivals to your Sami trip with us.
