|
Lappland in Swedish is the northern-most region of Finland, comprising about a third of the country. It is perhaps the best known of Finland's regions. Lappland is largely located within the Arctic Circle. It stretches across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The northen boundary is the Barents Sea, on the west by the Norwegian Sea, and on the east by the White Sea. Lappland is well known because American, British, and other children see it as the home of Santa Claus. Finnish Lappland claims to be the home of Santa Claus and his reindeers. The nomadic people have been called the Lapps, but in our politically correct world, this term is now considered derogatory and they are now called the Sámi people. As a result of its northerly location, Lappland and the Sámi people have genrally not been involved in wider Europen history. This changed with World War II which includes struggles in the Arctic. The Lappland War was fought at the end of the War. As a result, of the war, the Soviets forced the Finns to cede the Petsamo and Salla areas. Soviet Union. Lappland covers a large area, but accouts for less than 4 percent of the country's population. It is Finland's least densely populated area. The largest towns are Rovaniemi (the capital), Kemi, and Tornio. Only about 5 percent of the population are the Sámi people. They Sámi in northwestern Europe are among the largest indigenous ethnic groups in Europe. Lappland in modern Finland has become a tgourist attraction and offers experiences all year round. They include experience like winter twilight, Northern Lights and the nightless night of summer. The culture of Lappland is a mixture of north and south, east and west.
Lappland in Swedish is the northern-most region of Scandanavia. A substantial portion is in Finland. It comprises about a third of the country. It is perhaps the best known of Finland's regions. Lappland as a whole is largely located within the Arctic Circle. It stretches across Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The northen boundary is the Barents Sea, on the west by the Norwegian Sea, and on the east by the White Sea.
Lappland is well known because American, British, and other children see it as the home of Santa Claus. Finnish Lappland claims to be the home of Santa Claus and his reindeers.
The nomadic people have been called the Lapps, but in our politically correct world, this term is now considered derogatory and they are now called the Sámi people. The Sámi in northwestern Europe are among the largest indigenous ethnic groups in Europe. The Lapps or Laplanders are the indigenous population of northwestern Europe. They currently number about 60,000 and are concentrated mainly in Norway, in part because of suppression and restrictions in movement in the old Soviet Union. They call themselves the Sámi. The language is completely different than Norwegian. They speak a Finno-Ugric language. The Lapps are believed to have originated in central Asia. They were not originally an Arctic people, but have been pushed to the limits of habitable land in the northern extremities of Europe by the later migrations of more numerous Finns, Goths, and Slavs. Their folk dress is strongly affected by living in the northern extremities of Europe. Only a small minority of Sámi families today belong to the reindeer cooperatives ('villages'), and even they are not really nomadic: only a few full-time herdsmen follow the deer. Families may however spend their vacations with Dad in the summer grazing lands up by the Norway border. A considerable number of Lapps live in Stockholm and work office hours. The traditional culture and the language are alive and developing however, and crafts like knife-smithing, bone and horn engraving, woodcarving and tin-wire embroidery are an important source of income. In Jokkmokk there is an interesting Sámi museum, Ájtte (meaning Storehouse). Most young people of all ethnic groups understand and can make themselves understood in English. The Sámi are well organized and politically aware.
As a result of its northerly location, Lappland and the Sámi people have genrally not been involved in wider Europen history. This changed with World War II which includes struggles in the Arctic. The Lappland War was fought at the end of the War. The German reversals in the East were primarily in the south (1943). The Red Army finally began to focus on the North after finally relieving Lenningrad (1944). The Finns soon realized that they did not have the power of holding back the Red Army and sought to end the War. The Soviet destruction of Army Griupb Center with Operation Bagration (June-August 1944) essentially left the Finns on their own. The Germans anticipated that the Finns would seek a separate peace with the Soviet Union. The Germans thus made plans to protect their key interests in northern Finland even after the Finns withdrew from the War--especially the Petsamo nickel mines in the north. The Germans improved the rudimentary roads in the north and vast stockpiled large quantities of supplies, arms, and munitions. This was all in place were the Finns signed an armistice with the Soviets (September 19, 1944). As part of the Armistice, the Finns were required to drive the Germans out of their country. This allowed the Red Army to concntrate on the drive west toward Berlin. Surely part of Salin's calculation was also to punish the Finns for siding with the the Germans. Lappland this becaje the scene of heavy fighting between the former allies. This meant primarily the Germans still fighting in the north after the failed attempt to take Murmansk. Hitler refused to allow the German units to withdraw. Thus the Finns had to fight the Germans in the far north. Fighting began (September 27). The Germans as they retreated toward northern Norway burned everything in their path and heavily mined the entire area. The fighting deagged on until the last remananent of the German Army in Finland withdrew into occupied northern Norway (April 27, 1945). The Germans surrendered shortly aftr this (May 7). . As a result, of the war, the Soviets forced the Finns to cede the Petsamo and Salla areas.
The Finnish portion of Lappland covers a large area, but accouts for less than 4 percent of the country's population. It is Finland's least densely populated area. The largest towns are Rovaniemi (the capital), Kemi, and Tornio. Only about 5 percent of the population are the Sámi people.
Lappland in modern Finland has become a tourist attraction and offers experiences all year round. They include experience like winter twilight, Northern Lights and the nightless night of summer.
The culture of Lappland with its varied population is a mixture of north and south, east and west.
Navigate the HBC Lappland Pages
[]
[northern Norway]
[northern Sweden]
[Russia's Murmansk Oblast/Kola Peninsula)
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1890s]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
>
[Long pants suits]
[Knicker suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]
[School smocks]
[Sailor suits]
[Pinafores]
[Long stockings]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Page
[Return to the Main Finnish region page]
[Return to the Main Finnish page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
