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People of the eight seasons Photo: Carl Johan Utsi

People of the eight seasons

In Sápmi the year has eight seasons. Here is a little dictionary translation in Lule Sámi dialect  (translated by Nils-Olof Sortelius). These seasons and names have many meanings to us. They mark important periods in reindeer herding, indicating when nature changes and thereby influencing our chance to live well and keep a good herd of reindeers. Much in the Sámi community is based on the life cycle of the reindeer.

Dálvve                Winter                Christmas to the end of February

Gidádálvve         Spring winter     Beginning of March to late April

Gidá                   Spring                 Late April to late May

Gidágiesse         Spring summer   End of May to Midsummer

Giesse                Summer              From Midsummer to the end of August

Tjaktjagiesse    Autumn summer  From end of August to mid-September

Tjaktja              Autumn                From mid-September to mid-October

Tjaktjadálvve   Autumn winter     From mid-October to Christmas time


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