Lapland Culture

The Sami people distinguish culture of Lapland. The Sami's culture, language, traditional clothing, handicraft, and music, are distinctively different from other ethnic groups in Scandinavia. Though few in numbers, the Lapps give a peculiar colour to northern Lapland. They are a Samoyed tribe, who once arrived from the East. Originally they have no racial or linguistic relationship to the Finns, though they have most likely lived near some Finnish tribe before migrating.

The reindeers are still fundamental to the Sami culture and society, even though nowadays a majority of the Sami population pursue other careers, however, most Sami's do however have a family member or a relative who in some way are involved with the reindeers.

Today you can still hear someone speaking one of the Sami languages in Lapland or wearing part of the traditional clothes or jewellery, especially on the special occasions. The traditional Lappish singing Joiku can still be heard in many occasions. Even the traffic signs are in Sami. Sami culture is still living in and part of everyday in Lapland.