‘The sieidi is a better altar/the noaidi drum's a purer church bell’: long-term changes and syncretism at Sámi offering sites

Abstract

The changes in the Sámi ethnic religion practised by the indigenous people in northern Fennoscandia have often been described in terms of Christianization brought by Lutheran missions. The changes were, however, more long term and multifaceted. Archaeological excavations conducted at Sámi offering places have shown that the ethnic religion was never static, but the offering practices changed with time and in connection with changes in livelihood and society. In addition, syncretistic influences did not just derive from Christianity, but there were various agents and interplay among Christianity, the ethnic religion and contemporary neo-paganism.

Keywords:

• Sieidi
• Sámi ethnic religion
• Christianity
• Finnish Lapland
• syncretism
• long-term change

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Academy of Finland project ‘Human-Animal Relationships among Finland's Sámi 1000–1800 A.D.’ (1122623) for funding. Additional funding and support was also provided by the Giellagas Institute at the University of Oulu and the Academy of Finland project ‘Food and Identity in Medieval and Early Modern Urban Communities’ (138081).