The Saami People’s Day

Saami People’s Day—also known as Sami National Day—is a holiday that’s observed on the 6th of February and is an ethnic-national day for the Saami people in Norway. The Saami people are indigenous Finno-Ugric speaking people that live in northern parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula.

This holiday is a relatively new one in Norway due to discrimination that the Saami faced historically, but now it’s a holiday that’s celebrated all over the country. It’s a day on which the Sami Flag is raised, and people enjoy certain types of fish and reindeer to celebrate.

The History Of Saami People’s Day

This holiday commemorates the date in 1917 when the Saami people and Norwegians first came together across national borders to solve problems that faced both of them. Saami People’s Day was created in 1992 at the 15th Sami Conference in Helsinki. It’s a holiday that has since been celebrated every year.

Cool Facts About Norway

We have some cool facts about Norway that we’d like everyone to know about before they observe Saami People’s Day.

  • The Laerdal Tunnel in Norway is the longest tunnel in the world.
  • In Oslo, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year since 1901.
  • Norway introduced salmon to Japan to use for sushi.
  • Skiing was invented in Norway.
  • Norway has the biggest herd of reindeer in the entire world.

Observing Saami People’s Day

On this holiday, the national anthem is sung, the Saami Flag is raised, and special reindeer races are held where reindeer pull people on skis. It’s also a day on which people enjoy meals of fish and reindeer with their friends and family members.

Where is it celebrated?
Norway (Flag day)
When is it?
This year (2023)
February 6 Monday
Next year (2024)
February 6 Tuesday
Last year (2022)
February 6 Sunday