Discover the Sámi of Lapland and their incredible ancient culture
If you’re looking for an epic vacation, where you can get snow all the way up to your hair, eat food that will make your eyebrows shoot up (if they’re not frozen already), and discover that yes, Santa Claus really does exist (at least in Rovaniemi), then Lapland and the Sámi people are exactly what you need.
Wondering who they are?
I’ll tell you all about it in this article.
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So, who are the Sámi?
Let’s clear this up right away: the Sámi are a remarkable Indigenous people who have lived in Lapland for centuries, long before tourists started filling the region with puffy jackets and wool hats with reindeer on them.
Basically, the Sámi are the original people of Lapland, the ones who know how to survive when it’s -30°C outside and even your nose hairs freeze. Their population is estimated at between 50,000 and 100,000, and they live mainly across Norway, Sweden, Finland, and a small part of Russia. And they’re not there just to guide reindeer sleds or take you on tours across snowy landscapes.
No, they are the true soul of these frozen lands. We’re talking about resilient people who, for centuries, have lived in close contact with nature and developed a culture centered around a nomadic way of life, reindeer (of course), and a traditional form of singing called joik.
Watch out for joik: it might cast a spell on you
Joik is one of the strangest and at the same time most fascinating things you can encounter in Sámi culture.
You should know that joik is how the Sámi express everything: they sing to describe a person, an animal, or even a place. If someone dedicates a joik to you, you’ve basically become part of the family!
And yes, there are even joik disses and love songs... But don’t expect anything like restaurant singalongs: for the Sámi, this is a very serious matter.
This traditional form of singing survived a great deal of pressure from the Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish governments, which for a long time tried to make it disappear because it was considered “too wild”.
Today, though, joik is making a strong comeback, and there are even bands mixing it with pop and rock.
Have you ever heard of KEiiNO, the band that brought joik to Eurovision? They are among the heroes of the Sámi revival.
Celebrating with the Sámi
Don’t think Lapland is only about ice and silence, because the Sámi definitely know how to celebrate.
Festivals are the perfect way to dive headfirst into their culture. For example, there’s Riddu Riđđu, where, between concerts under the midnight sun and generous feasts, people dance and sing until they can barely speak.
After all, what better way to warm up than by dancing and celebrating as if there were no tomorrow?
There’s also Sámi Week in Tromsø, where you can try reindeer racing or learn how to joik.
If you want something a little wilder, you should head to the Easter Festival in Kautokeino. Here, among concerts and snowmobile cross races, your fun meter is bound to go off the charts.
There’s truly so much to do, from dawn until long after the sun should have set.
And speaking of the sun... where does it go?
Lapland is famous for two other extraordinary things: the midnight sun and the Northern Lights.
In summer, the sun never sets here. And yes, I know what you’re thinking: “Amazing, endless days to do whatever I want!” But trust me, after a while you’ll lose track of time and find yourself desperately looking for a way to sleep.
In winter, on the other hand, the sun decides it’s done enough and disappears for weeks.
In its place comes the Northern Lights, as if to say: “Sunset? That’s for beginners. Let me put on a proper light show instead.”
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So, why visit the Sámi?
Let me put it plainly: Lapland and the Sámi people are perfect for anyone looking for an alternative journey, something different from the usual trip.
There are no golden beaches here, but endless stretches of white snow. There are no beach cocktails, but steaming hot reindeer soup. And above all, there are no ordinary sunsets, but skies painted green and purple by the Northern Lights.
You know that old cliché that Eskimos have countless words for “snow”? Well, once you discover Sámi culture, you’ll need a million more ways to say “HOW AMAZING!”
So, if you’re looking for something unique, authentic, and the chance to discover a culture that will make you feel wonderfully small in the face of nature’s power, then hop on the next flight to Lapland.
If you want, you can even sleep inside an igloo or a traditional Sámi tent!
What are you waiting for? Ready to enjoy Lapland and experience Sámi culture?
Pack your bag now and get ready for the wildest trip of your life: 7 days in Lapland with the Sámi!
