Greenland Traditions

Despite the fact that the achievements of civilization - an integral part of the Inuit way of life today, only 40 years ago, the Greenlanders lived alone in hunting, unaware of the existence of any other food, computers, luxury cars and motor boats. According to their beliefs, people were shadows - and more dead than alive - and in the realm of the living to keep them only the rituals of hunting. Any objection, any deviation from the established way of life would mean a return to the world of animals. Harmony with nature, respect and reverence for the dead animals who have sacrificed themselves for the good of man - the distinctive traits of a good hunter, who held the world from the deviation from its axis. Eskimo folklore tells of a time when people could talk to animals; words had tengeq, or inner strength, and if uttered carelessly, lose their force. Perhaps in this lies the root cause of almost legendary unwillingness Inuit chatter wasted. Their taciturnity compels many visitors to look bold and impudent.

Small figurines Tupilak Inuit for centuries made from bones, skins and pieces of peat. Initially it was thought that they are approaching death, and the man who carved them had to be very careful and ensure that the power of the amulet of the victim was weaker than the force tupilak, in order to avoid fatal mistakes. Today tupilak figurines are sold as souvenirs and are cut from an antler, steatite, wood, ivory narwhal, seal bones and teeth, and the only power they possess - the ability as a magnet to attract tourist dollars.

It is said that the inscription on the Greenlandic language looks like a clumsy attempt to print a two-year child anything, the long chains of polysyllabic words are joined by a repetition of vowels, and the number of letters "q" slightly off scale. Conversational language in no better, since Greenland has a habit of half cut polysyllabic words in its sole discretion, and therefore for foreigners who are guided by phrase, meaning of what remains a closely guarded secret.

Relationships Greenland and Greenpeace are changing with every gust of wind. Greenpeace is opposed to catching and slaughter of seals and whales, and this position has significantly undermined the economy of Greenland, and especially the northern part of the island, where 80% of the total income of hunting. Since then, Greenpeace has acknowledged that the situation in Greenland is different from the situation in other countries, except in cases of destruction of animals on the verge of extinction, hunting is allowed. Nevertheless, many Greenlanders still speak bitterly about the invasion of the defenders of nature in their traditional way of life.

Religion - Christianity (38.2% - Lutherans), preserved traditional local beliefs.

The biggest event in the Greenland calendar - Commemoration of the end of polar night. It is usually held in January - February. In March, Nuuk providing hospitality international festival of sculptures made of snow, while the Uummannaq fjord holds a unique event - World Ice Golf Chempionships (World Championship of Golf on the ice). In early April, in Sisimiut starts very "tough" three-day ski race in the world. On the eve of Easter, the villages north of the Arctic Circle carry Sled Dog Race and Festival of Arts. Qaqortoq Music Festival is held in late June - early July, as soon as it starts Marathon Nuuk. Another big festival - Aasivik, cultural and political forum, which is usually held in mid-July and is famous for its performances of traditional folk theater, dancing to the drum and the drums and folk music.