Eager for culture shock, Fiona Vella visits the indigenous people of Finnish Lapland, where spring days last 16 hours and reindeer is always on the menu

Spring tends to bring with it an inherent wish for renewal, a longing to experience something different and an eagerness for a fresh start.

A holiday in Lapland, Finland, enjoying the crispness of the Arctic Circle in the company of the indigenous Sami people may sound fantastic and surreal.

However, in reality, this faraway land is only two flights away from our islands.

There are several ways of reaching Lapland, one of which is to fly to Gatwick and then to Ivalo airport.

High-standard tourist resorts provide a varied choice of accommodation, while a wide range of activities are available according to the season.

In this part of the world, spring starts at the beginning of March and finishes at the end of April.

The middle of March is renowned for offering a good chance of observing the Northern Lights, as the weather is clearer and no lights are around.

During mid-March, the day lasts for nearly 12 hours and stretches to 16 hours in April, leaving ample time for many activities.

Within this remarkable landscape, one can relish the opportunity to learn about the ancient indigenous Sami culture and traditions and to get to know its people.

Presently the Sami population is about 75,000 and the area in which they live stretches all the way from central Norway and Sweden, across the north of Finland and into the Kola Peninsula in the far northwest of Russia.

There are around 8,700 Sami in Finland and they speak three languages: Northern Sami, Inari Sami or Skolt Sami.

Sami national dress varies from one region to another, identifying where the wearer’s family is from and is generally very colourful. The ancient Sami believed that everything had a spirit, even outer space, and their ancient mythology was a form of nature worship.

The Sami people and reindeer have lived side by side for hundreds of years and this led to an extraordinary relationship

In this distant past, they believed that only the shaman of the village community knew how to contact their deities.

The shaman communicated with these divinities through the use of a particular drum that on its reindeer-skin surface portrayed life and the universe in the past, present and future.

Traditional Sami livelihoods are thoroughly linked with nature. Fishing, hunting and producing handicrafts are still significant activities.

Yet the main economic occupation for the Sami is reindeer herding. The Sami people and reindeer have lived side by side for hundreds of years and this led to an extraordinary relationship between them.

In fact, reindeer live in a state of semi-domestication as the herders take care of them when the climate gets too cold, even for such sturdy animals, or when there is not enough food in the forest to feed the entire reindeer herd.

Once these difficulties are over, the reindeer are released back in the wild.

There are about 200,000 reindeer in Lapland and approximately 6,500 reindeer owner-herdsmen.

The round-up season begins after the animals’ rutting period in the latter half of October.

Owners identify their herds with a special mark made on the animals’ ears. In summer the reindeer are rounded up so that the calves will get the same marking as their mother.

Later on, in autumn, these animals are gathered once again so that they can be counted, separated or slaughtered.

Those that are more tame and strong will be trained to pull sleighs, whilst the ones with the most attractive coats and healthy characteristics will be retained to mate and provide the best calves.

Others will be butchered for their meat and skins.

Reindeer have always been very important to Sami culture and history and to the tourist industry.

There is rarely any waste as the leather is used for clothing and accessories, hides are turned into jackets, shoes, boots, purses, cases, hats and pants and antlers are crafted into buttons, knife handles and jewellery.

Meat is prepared in several ways: salted, air-dried, warm smoked, cold smoked, roasted, boiled, fried and sauteed with butter and onions.

Many of these reindeer products are found in souvenir shops and reindeer meat can be enjoyed in restaurants, even as burgers.

For those who prefer to have a closer look at the reindeer, there is the opportunity to follow the practice of the round-ups.

Many things have changed from the traditional way of capturing these animals with snowmobiles, mobile phones, electric torches and many other gadgets to increase the efficiency of this job.

Not all are happy with this situation as the elders find it quite difficult to update themselves with the changing methods.

Visitors could also choose to ride a reindeer sleigh guided by a Sami.

If you are lucky enough to meet a storyteller, it will definitely be a day to remember

Often this ride will include a visit to a reindeer farm where tourists can explore traditional Sami huts and drink hot berry juice that is cooked on a fire, set up in the centre of a huge tent.

The culture is embellished with many legends and if you are lucky enough to meet a storyteller, it will definitely be a day to remember.

However, books available in a number of shops will illustrate clearly some of the traditions of this indigenous culture.

A lovely memoir of these people can be owned through distinct local artistic drawings such as those of popular Sami artist Merja Aletta Ranttila, in which she captures the charming allure of her people.

To complete this rare opportunity of observing a still-thriving European indigenous culture, visit Sajos, the Sami Cultural Centre opened in January 2012 and for those who want to delve further into the history of this ancient culture, a visit to Siida, the Sami National Museum, is a must.