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 There will be reindeer sledging at the market place Europe’s most northerly and most southerly cultures will come together in the Oulu Marketplace on 2nd and 3rd February as part of the ‘Reindeer Feria.’ According to Oulu City Council, the festival will be, ‘a nice weekend full of exotic things for the whole family.’ It will also be a showcase for Oulu’s Spanish-influenced Feria and its Sami culture week, both of which will continue for several days after the ‘Reindeer Feria.’
The second Flamenco festival in Oulu
The name ‘Feria’ derives from the ‘traditional Spanish festival’ involving a cattle-market, Flamenco dancing and feasting on traditional Spanish food. The term can be traced even further back as the Latin word for ‘free day,’ various feast days of the Ancient Roman year on which slaves did not have to work. As Christianity spread, people attended mass on free days and markets and fairs built up around this. In Seville, for example, the biggest Feria involves families setting up tents in the streets, wearing regional costumes – including Flamenco costumes in the case of the women - and feasting and drinking for three days. The first Flamenco festival in Oulu (Oulu Feria) was organised by Pohjoinen Flamenco ry last year to bring some joy and happiness during the darkest time of the year.
The first Samish week in Oulu
 Lasso throwing in Kautokeino, Norway The languages and culture of the various Sami groups are different from other ethnic groups in Fennoscandia and Russia. Many aspects of their culture are closely related to the nature and their traditional life, in nature, as hunters, fishermen and reindeer herders. Nowadays, Sami are still generally identified with reindeer herding although only about ten percent are actually reindeer herders, with many having a variety of different jobs from school teachers to dentists. Sami culture was historically suppressed by the nations in which Samis lived. That has led to a more recent Sami revival during the second part of the 20th century with the Sami National Day recognised in 1993. Promotion of Sami culture has included education in Sami, specific Sami departments at universities, Sami language media and the promotion of Sami literature. According to Norwegian anthropologist, Thomas Hylland Eriksen, the prestige attached to Sami culture has radically changed as the interest in minority cultures and rights has risen. In Norway, in the 1950s, it was found that many Samis wanted to be seen as Norwegian and imitated Norwegians accordingly. Now, according to Eriksen, the Sami are asserting their culture, most obviously through dress. Moreover, people who have only a very weak claim to be Sami are trying to be recognised as such. The Norwegian government, for example, only recognises a person as Sami if at least one of their Great-Grandparents was a Sami native-speaker. Oulu does not belong to the region of Sápmi. However, there are many Sami living and studying here.  Traditional Sami handicraft is made out of natural materials like reindeer leather and filt ‘Reindeer Feria’ Spanish partying with Sami culture by hosting a reindeer market complete with ‘reindeer riding’, Flamenco dancing (naturally) and a Sami Fashion show displaying the colourful traditional Sami costumes. There will also be various market stalls selling everything from Sami handicraft to reindeer meat. At the ‘Reindeer Feria’ as on several other occasions (see program below) you will be able to listen to Joik, a traditional Sami form of song. In contrast to traditional melancholic Finnish music, Joik music sounds very joyful. It usually does not contain many lyrics but attempts to reflect the “essence” of a person or a place. Nowadays, there are different music groups mixing modern elements into the Joik. One famous group, with the artist Wimme Saari, is going to give a concert at the Sami Culture Week. According to the city council ‘Reindeer Feria’ is way of promoting the forthcoming ‘Oulu Feria Flamenco Festival’ and ‘Sami Culture week.’
Links:
Program of Oulu Feria : http://feria.pohjoinenflamenco.fi/?page_id=38
Article of the first Oulu Feria last year: http://www.65degreesnorth.com/content/view/87/85/
Program of the Samish culture week (in Finnish) : http://www.oulu.fi/giellagas/kulturvahkku/su_kulturvahkku.pdf
Digest of the program of Samish culture week in English:2.2. and 3.2. 2007
10 am – 6 pm (4 pm): ‘Poro Feria’ market at the market place which will be turned into a small village of Sami huts. There will be Sami food and handicraft, lasso throwing, reindeer sledging for kids as well as ‘joik’ and flamenco performances.
2.2. Dance evening in the Radisson hotel from 9 pm on
3.2. Concert of Wimme in Nuku: A combination of traditional joik with improvisation (8 pm)
4.2. Sami film festival, Nuku (12 – 8 pm); there is also a exhibition of traditional Sami clothing and original Samish handicraft will be on sale.
4.2. 45 Special Jamit: Flamenco and Samish artist playing in the nightclub (from 9 pm on)
5.2. Continuation of the film festival in Nuku (9 am- 10 pm)
6.2. Sami handicraft in the library (selling exhibition) 10 am – 6 pm; in the library is also an exhibition about teaching Sami language and culture in the Oulu region
6.2. Celebration of Sami national day and meeting of cultures: Improvisation and Flamenco performance in the Torero restaurant from 9 pm on
7.2. Yoik! Party in 45Special with Sami music beginning at 10 pm.
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