answer to dailyprompt-2072
What am I most proud of or interested in about my cultural heritage?
note: I’m from Norway, from Northern regions including Nordland, Troms and Finnmark counties. I currently live in Finnmark county, but spent my childhood and early to mid teenage years in Nordland and Troms. Btw it’s somewhat long text because I had a lot on my mind writing.
I’m proud of our diversity in cultures in the Northern regions and also the far-Southern roots of my grandfather side. Our different languages and ethnicities traditionally and the modern influence from immigrants, including both European and non-European groups. I’m proud of our traditional clothing, the Sámi cuisine in general and our unique sense of humor. I have Finnish roots as well as Sámi, Kven and general Scandinavian plus Traveller/Reisende ancestry.
I love Finnish language and I want to learn how to speak Finnish so Finnish natives understand me when I say something in their language. I want to learn North Sámi language also, maybe learning two Uralic origin languages will help a lot more to understand both Finnish/Kven and Sámi languages and way of thought; a big part of culture and identity is tied to language.
(This is not my own gákti, but I really want one)
I like sauna experience and the culture of great strenght and brave determination in my heritage, our polar nights or twilight of winter seasons and summer Midnight Sun phenomenon are part of our cultural features that give us special point of view as an Arctic regions population.
The Light changes is a large influence on our everyday life, and sometimes visiting Southern Scandinavian persons are surprised by the bright Midnight sun and cannot sleep at all. In our case it’s strange the sun (in their location) actually sets in June! And Christmas Eve sunlight? That’s actually even more strange!
Some more about the sauna tradition; in Norway it’s often called ‘badstue’ or ‘sauna’ and they are always present in swimming halls. It’s very good sometimes to be in strong heat with other people, we talk about different topics while relaxing in the warm environment. It’s kind of fun when we pour water on the stones and it makes the sound.
These are a pair of my own Arctic indigenous inspired (modern) boots from Topaz called Sami:
Our languages are important part of my passion for family research and the big community of the local Kven group as well as the many different Sámi identities, including city Sámi culture like I’m identified with being from small-medium size Northern towns currently and growing up. I’m pro diversity in all forms, European or any other background is welcome here, if you ask me at least so it is. I’m also interested in identity themes in general like trans/non-binary identity and I’m myself a bisexual/lesbian woman. I’m autistic/Asperger syndrome person and have severe mental illness including schizoaffective disorder and childhood adversity history. My political opinions go far left, and it’s also in my deep family roots being left-leaning culture.
I also have done DNA-tests myself and many family members and relatives have also take the tests. The results match well what our research has shown with records and I also importantly have many true photos/pictures of my ancestors in my genealogy collection of many aspects of our heritage. I keep some in frames on my living room wall, they watch me with care and it can be very insightful into both general history and the family dynamics of our roots.
So that’s something about my cultural features and family heritage, there is so much more than I can write down in words.
It’s Friday fun today ❤
(Giitu go lohket ❤ Kiitos kun luit ❤ )
(and thanks for reading!)
cloudB 