Did you know that in Lapland, there are eight seasons and not just four? The Sámi people – the indigenous people of the region – have been called the people of eight seasons. Drastically changing daylight and weather give a specific rhythm to all life.  Due to climate change, the seasons are transforming and becoming more unpredictable.

As you walk along the ramp, you will learn about the different seasons and the everyday items associated with them:

In the autumn-winter season, the days are getting shorter and often the first snowfall hits the ground. In the dark, a reflector is a cheap life insurance.

During winter, the lack of sunlight affects people’s spirits. Polar night depression is treated with regular light therapy. A bright artificial light mimics natural sunlight.

In spring-winter, slippery surfaces can be dangerous, but you can also enjoy them while speeding with a kicksled. Kicksled enthusiasts are challenged by the sand and gravel spread on icy streets.

The spring is a time of flooding. When the flood risk is high, people who live in the floodplain start to protect their homes for example with sandbags.

The spring-summer is a busy period for Sami craftspeople. For example, they peel the bark off trees for dyeing reindeer hides with it. In the early summer the bark is easy to peel off.

The summer is a bright and intensive season of growth. Nature is filled with colours and sounds – as well as mosquitos. Humans have come up with many different ways to repel and protect themselves from these small bloodsuckers.

The autumn-summer is a time of harvest. Picking berries and mushrooms is an everyone’s right in Finland. A berry-picking rake is a simple but effective artefact to boost bilberry and lingonberry picking.

The autumn is a great period to sit around a campfire whether you are fishing, hunting, picking berries or hiking. In Lapland, coffee is often enjoyed from a traditional wooden cup called ‘kuksa’.