In the Paanajarvi national park Sami days were again held to celebrate the Sami National Day (February 6). These were Sami people who lived in our territory long time ago. We remember about it thanks to seitas – amazing sacred stones – and unusual names of islands and rivers.

We started our Sami days with the Sami fairy tale.

This year the second grade pupils of the Pyaozerskiy school led by their teacher Alevtina Trifonova read the «Winter Fairy Tale» written by Zachris Topelius and prepared a performance based on it. For the second year in a row we have referred to the works of this amazing storyteller, because thanks to them we have learned about severe but gorgeous northern nature and brave northern people. They teach us to be kind showing that only kind souls can break the ice outside and in the people’s hearts.

We together with children and their parents worried about the old pines Tuulitukka (Sky Prop) and Pilviparta (Cloud Catcher) and watched Silvia and Sylvester’s adventures. The young actors – Mark Kuznetsov, Ivan Serbushka, Valeriya Moreva, Yuriy Panteleev, Kristina Lipayeva, Timofey Arkhipov, Natalya Neskoromnykh and Mikhail Osipov – played their roles perfectly.

Then we tried to find the most attentive reader. However, the children easily managed to solve a number puzzle, crossword and a puzzle with a collection of things that came «alive». It’s wonderful when children can read and like reading!

On Sunday, February 12, lots of adult villagers came to join the Sami games. Last year these games were held for the first time.

This year seven teams took part in the competition. There were lots of people who wanted to test their agility: personnel of the Pyaozerskiy hospital, kindergarten staff, workers of the Suoperä multilateral transport crossing point, transport inspection and silviculture staff as well as the representatives of «Lesovichki» school forest range and the team of the «Paanajarvi» national park. This year there were held traditional competitions, such as «Sami football», triple national jump and the game «Catch the deer», as well as new challenges. The teams had to learn how to use snowshoes and to throw a stone at a target. However, the competitions did not seem to be difficult, because thanks to them there was a wonderful friendly atmosphere. After summarizing the results we learned that there were a lot of winners this year. The transport inspection team (the winner of the previous year) and the Pyaozerskiy kindergarten team turned out to be the most dexterous and skillful. The customs representatives and the health workers came in a close second. But we think that everyone won the games, because everyone was in a very good mood!

Thanks for the festival! We look forward to seeing you next year!