Patti leads this week, and I was happy to find the prompt to be Celebrations! In Greenland they celebrate their National Day on June 21, and we were there. It is always fantastic to see how other countries and nationalities celebrate. This time it didn’t look much like any other National Day I have attended.
In voices clear and strong, the songs were performed by a small but well trained choir.
Then, there was an hour of sermon and more singing in the beautiful Zion’s Church in Ilulissat.
On marching in, some of the people wore the traditional clothing in red, white and black. When we visited Greenland in 1982, everyone wore the national dress for the visit of Queen Margarethe. In former times the Inuits only wore clothes made from animal hides or skins. When the Europeans came, and began to trade using glass beads in the 17th and 18th century, these beads gradually were incorporated in their festive attire.
After church, everyone gathered on the shore, and many small boats arrived… There was anticipation in the air! What was everyone waiting for… ? Some kind of competition or performance was expected.
We didn’t know exactly what, but finally one participant was spotted, and someone told us that first out would be kayak rolling.
He started preparing…and soon they were ready for the show. It was this man and a young girl performing. The water held approxiamtely 2 degrees C and they rolled for half an hour…
It was a big day for the young woman´s mother as well. She stood right beside me so I could admire her elaborately made seal boots. She coached her daughter on when and how to do different, difficult rolls – which the girl performed to perfection. ”My daughter!” the mother smiled at me, shining with pride.
The last activity was the seal hunt. After the kayak rolling, the motor boats roared and headed out between the icebergs. The one who came back first with a seal would win a rifle. We didn’t stay to see the results of the competition, because this event could take a couple of hours or more – and we were hungry. Rumours had it they might have hidden a seal already caught somewhere…so cheating was maybe allowed!
Tradition still means much to the Inuits, and we were so fortunate to get the opportunity of joining in this day. An adventure to be remembered, and the many smiling faces too.
Finally, this young couple made it the perfect day to get married!
A huge thank you to Anne for letting us rest in a summer daze. and to all of you for the terrific responses! Also a huge thank you to Patti for the fun challenge and for giving me the opportunity to show pictures from Greenland’s National Day.
Please remember to link to Patti’s original post and to add the Lens-Artists tag!
Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Egidio leads us once again. Until then, please stay safe and enjoy your week.
Leya 
What a wonderful post, AC! You really spent your time well in Greenland. I love the details–the beautiful boots, costumes….And the scenery!! Fantastic.
Thank you, Patti! It was a refreshing adventure.
What a wonderful experience, Ann-Christine! I love the boots, I’d be quite tempted to get a pair myself 🙂
Aren’t they beautiful! What marvelous handicraft – it must take a long time to make them.
This is so different! It must have been so much fun
Thank you, I.J. it was. The harmony of the ice and the sky, the nice people, delicious food and the lonely walks in the fresh air – my kind of vacation!
Cool!
♥
This is so cool (no pun intended) — Greenland has always been a place of mystery for me because of its history and I’m so glad to see your modern day experiences there.
Thank you, yes, it’s a very interesting culture and history. Strong people!
This is a fascinating glimpse of the Inuit culture. Wonderful photos as always, AC!
Thank you, Patti – and thank you for a great challenge! I was lucky to just return from the celebrations!
Fascinating, thank you for sharing
You are welcome, glad you enjoyed!
How wonderful that you were in Greenland for this festival! It really helps to open up the culture of these resilient people for us, and it’s great to see all the happy faces and the traditional costumes 😀
Thank you, Sarah – I am very grateful. These are highly treasured experiences!
Ann-Christine, what a collection of photos of a single celebration. Your focus on the couple was a story within the story.
Thank you, John, I wasn’t sure if I was to include them, but I guess it was worth it!
Great post A C! You captured some brilliant images of those hardy people – 2C..no thanks! loved those boots 😊
Oh, my God- these people are hardy! That’s quite amazing. The boots are beautiful too xx
♥ I admire them very much – as I do all native people.
What an enjoyable read, illustrated with some great pictures. What an experience 🙂
Steve, I am very grateful to have experienced this. I loved every second.
Ann-Christine, what a great celebration you shared here. Thanks for the wonderful stories and beautiful photos. It felt as if I were there! It was all so beautiful.
Thank you, Egidio – so happy you could feel something of its essence!
Beautiful moments captured for posterity.
In a unique setting!
Thank you, Nes – it was wonderful to get the opportunity!
You were very lucky to be there for a unique experience . . .thank you for showing and teaching us also . . . ________________________________
Thank you, Eha – I am very grateful to have been there and seen something of their traditions.
What a unique cultural celebration. I especially like the colorful outfits, kayak rolling, and stunning blues and whites in the water images.
Thank you – glad you enjoyed it too!
This is wonderful Ann-Christine. You really brought it to life for us and it will certainly be the only way for me to see it. I love the way the native peoples are preserving important traditions.
Thank you, Tina, I am also loving that they do – and that I was able to see it in person!
Thank you for sharing this with us. So very interesting.
Thank you for enjoying!
You sure were lucky to be there for a colourful celebration Ann-Christine. I love the boots. As for Kayak rolling in ice cold water, no thanks.
Haha, they are tough…
Thank you, Leya, for your inspiring gallery and the stories you shared about Inuit tradition. The waters look pristine.
Thank you for reading and enjoying it!
You are most welcome, Leya!