Santa Has left The Area

A famous 'person of interest' has departed a very important calendar-time of our year, but his celebratory appearance has once again brought up issues. Mr. Santa Claus, a very beloved 'real' man appeared by journeying to our lives and leaving in a vehicle pulled by a mythical team of  'Hreinin', which in old Norse translates to 'horned animals' or reindeer!

 "On Dancer, On Prancer...!"

This animal actually exists today. As Santa leaves, he calls out his team's names, ending with  "Donner and Blitzen". However, those two confused Dutch deer are really named Dunder and Blixim, named by the 

Sami Santa?

Dutch-American who wrote the famous story about St. Nicholas. So, what's right and what's wrong with this picture? Maybe, Santa is really Sami! One more thing: Both sexes of reindeer grow horns, but the adult male sheds his in the early winter, while the female keeps hers! So, the sleigh is being pulled by a  team of female deer   ( they all have antlers) that has the ability to fly!

 No wonder our children are confused!

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Reindeer were once viewed as mysterious creatures living in lands in the northern part of the world. Their population was widespread in Scandinavian and Eastern

European countries where, during the 18th century, they were domesticated. They are often used in transportation, pulling sleds and sleighs, and are still an important part of some northern European cultures, particularly to the Sámi people (commonly known as Laplanders to non-Europeans).

 The Sami are one of the oldest indigenous groups in Europe. Two thousand years ago, they inhabited all of present-day Finland. They have also lived  in the inland of Sweden and all the way to the Atlan­tic Ocean, from central Norway north to the White Sea, in what is now Russia. The Sami have a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding. Their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding. Currently about ten percent of the Sami are connected to reindeer herding, while the deer provide them with meat, fur, and transportation.

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   The Sami people have depended on the reindeer for food, transportation and their livelihood. The reindeer are free ranging to find their own food and survive the winter cold as well as summer heat, pests and wolves. In a year, reindeer may travel as much as 3,100 miles  each year. To avoid the winter weather of the tundra, reindeer travel back towards the forest to seek shelter from the severity of winter. Winter is a difficult time for the reindeer, therefore, movements are erratic as they forage for sufficient food to sustain themselves through the long, cold and dark eight months of winter.Reindeer migrations are simply a means of survival and during the winter, it migrates to the forested areas where it is easier to dig in the snow where they find  reindeer lichen on which  to graze.

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 To keep up to the reindeer, Sami herders must be able to move often. Their temporary dwelling is called a lavvu  (pronounced “LAA-voo”).Its simplicity enables the Sami to move quickly with their semi-domesticated reindeer herds at a moment's notice. Similar to an 'Indian tepee', the Sami home is more centered to the ground, and better able to endure the fierce winds of the Scandinavian tundra, a design that dates back many hundreds if not thousands of years.

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It's winter, and Christmas really is over! Dunder and Blixim

as well as thousands of reindeer will  cross Scandinavia for their annual two-month migration from Norway to Finland. It's a matter of survival and instinct. Sami herders will pack up their lavvus and family for their  journey which can take two months, covering hundreds of miles.Around 3,500 reindeer and dozens of Sami make the annual trip across the snow from Karasjok, the Sami capital of Norway, over the snowy plains of northern Scandinavia, and across the Finnish border.

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 The "stay-at-home" Scandinavians can only wonder what that trip would be like and  how it must appear. Winter nights are long and entertainment must be scarce. TV watchers have become content to watch TV productions of long duration. During one Yul, Norwegian TV aired "Yule Log" that did nothing but flicker all night. Another "Slow TV"  epic event was of a  'knitting marathon' in real time. These productions are well-liked by Norwegian viewers and these reindeer have caught their interest. By popular demand,  the reindeer migration will be aired on TV!

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" Coming soon, Reindeer Migrate to Their Winter Grounds"

NRK TV will air reindeer being herded across the country. The project leader Thomas Hellum, an NRK producer. says" it's going to be hard-core, but will only last a week. Anything more", he says," would be too slow, even for slow TV. It might be boring at times, but live reindeer migration is hardcore slow TV.” “It’s an opportunity to give the rest of the country a greater understanding of our culture,” said Ole Rune Hatta, of NRK Sami . Slow TV has been a big hit in Norway since 2009.

Ready...Action!

This large herd of reindeer are following their instincts and ready for the long journey.

10,000 to up to 100,000 animals band together for their journey.

As Sami herders keep them together, they travel to more favorable winter grounds.

The long journey continues until  winter food and shelter from the cold is found.

The Sami reindeer herders follow their animals all the way across the plains of Sapmi, an annual task of herding thousands of reindeer many miles in order to survive the tundra winter.As the season changes, The herd will retrace their path and return to warm and fertile home. Dunder and Blixim were unable to fly on their journey, but the annual event goes on.

Have a good trip. We'll see you on TV!