Finnish Saami celebrate national day

Finnish Saami, who number about 5,000 in the northern portion of the country, celebrated their second official national day on Feb. 6.

The Saami chose that date because on Feb. 6, 1917, the first Nordic Saami convention was held in Trondheim, Norway where Saami from Norway and Sweden discussed reindeer husbandry, education, and relations to the majority population.

The Saami National Day was added to the official Finnish almanac for the first time last year.

However, the occasion has been celebrated unofficially since 1992.