--The Saami flag--
One thing that came out of going to my family reunion, is the knowledge that I am descended from the Saami people. The old, politically incorrect name was Lapps. The Saami live in the northernmost regions of Scandinavia and Russia. In Finland, 'Lapland' is where Santa Clause 'lives' and the Saami raise reindeer. Actually, reindeer herding, fishing, and hunting are traditional main occupations among the Saami--and the majority of the reindeer in Finland are owned by them. A good portion of the Saami--maybe the majority--live north of the Arctic Circle. There is no agreement as to where the Saami originated.From the pictures I have seen, I guess I know why I don't look like the 'traditional' Scandinavian--blonde hair, blues eyes, fair skin. I am medium brunette (at least my natural color), green eyes, and my skin has a very definite olive undertone. I guess this also explains why I like living in the northern regions and really dislike the heat! :)
For anyone interested, here are a few links--it is a very fascinating read:
The Saami--Virtual Finland
World Culture Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
