The market was not as big as I was expecting, yet it still seemed large.
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| Aaaw you want a hug??? |
Other things that I did at the market were to catch a concert that was amazing. It was several groups who came together and played music with each other and by themselves. I had no idea who they were, but the music they produced was very interesting. Some folk songs,
Finnish Tango, sami fiddle, and just good ol jam music. The highlight was that I got to see
Sofia Jannok. She only performed
2 songs, but it was still increadiable. As I do not have a lot of space on Blogger thing, I am posting my videos to the concert as links to youtube stuff. So, if you want, click on the highlighted words to see some of the concert.
One of the other cool things at the concert was a performance by an Inuit from Greenland. She started out the evening sitting on a stool applying her make-up and explaining (in Swedish) the significance of the performance she would be doing for us that night. From what I could make out it is a dance that they would do during the winter to have a mental break from the darkness. It was meant to have 3 themes but I could only get the gist of 2 - there was a sexual theme and a comedic theme, but again couldn't make out the last part. Anyway -
here's a link to a segment of her performance. It was way cool and funny.
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| Tuija with a new friend |
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| Badger, martin, ermine, roe deer fawn |
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| Capercallie and ptarmigan |
The market was filled with kinda same stuff that is seen at the winter markets and at the fall market I went to. Lots of meat stalls, lots and lots and lots of knitted clothing (gloves, hats, socks etc). But here there were also lots of stalls with skins and pelts and stuffed animals.
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| Sweets were not enticing when its -27C |
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| This guy sold me those 3 mugs |
There were certain things that are traditional Sami "stuff" which I went shopping for. One is a Kåsa (pronounced Kosa or koasa like coast). this is typically made of birch and then you add in the reindeer bone for accent. Another is the leukus which is a knife with wood (birch or sallow), reindeer antler/bone in the handle and a shieth made of reindeer hide. When you buy a Kåsa the traditional exchange of goods and money is followed by sharing a shot with the seller. You can of course buy these from a store where they look like they've been drilled by a machine, or you can buy them where they look hand made. My guy made it seem like he made them himself...if he did I will never know. However, mine at least looked hand made. The bartering was entertaining and ended in a 100 kr discount and him pouring a shot of VERY VERY cold whisky into each mug I purchased. I was not able to share either with my friends who were all laughing at me as I purchased 3 of these mugs and it was 1pm in the afternoon.
I am kicking myself now for not taking photos of the items for sale or of the people. I was so enthralled with what people were wearing I forgot to photograph them. Then, it just became so common place that you'd forget after that. Maybe next year - or not. Cuz it isn't likely I will go back. On both days I was there I missed the parade which would have been the best opportunity as anyone in Sami dress would walk in it...I guess that is reason to return. Otherwise, the best I can offer is I roomed with Norwegian Sami girls and they got ready every night for the Sami Dance.
Which leads me to my next bit. I didn't go to the Sami Dance as I heard it was pretty much a disco that you had to pay 200kr to get in...instead I went to the Swedish Dance. Which was free and really - it was way more my scene. It was super fun.
The first night was empty, but the second night it overflowed into two different dance halls because there were some 9 fiddlers, 2 accordion players, 3 guitarists, 1 clarinet, 1 flute, and some ladies playing instruments Ive seen before but have no idea what its called. It was basically a barn dance. Only a barn dance that was inside some building next to a fire.
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| Paulina and Kenichi |
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| Tuija is dancing with a wood carver I met at the market |
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