In the Nenets Autonomous Area, Reindeer Herder's Day is celebrated on 2 August, but it is a little longer. This year, the reindeer herders decided to gather for the gala event on 28 July and celebrate until 4 August. Krasnoye settlement, about 30 km from Naryan-Mar, was chosen as the central venue for the celebrations, while smaller events will be held in almost all settlements, camps and villages of the Bolshezemelskaya, Kaninskaya, Timanskaya and Malozemelskaya tundra.

The tradition of celebrating the professional holiday of tundra dwellers in the Nenets Autonomous Area is relatively young—it is only a year old. However, some rules have already been established. Firstly, the regional management and sponsors of the event organise gifts for reindeer herders, which are delivered to the solemn date by airplanes. Last year, they made 13 sorties, this year, they made 12. A free bus to the Krasnoye settlement was organised for Naryan-Mar residents, while the guests got to other settlements mostly on sledges. Secondly, Reindeer Herder's Day combines several aspects at once—it is a social and cultural event aimed at preserving the traditions of the region's indigenous peoples.



The timing of the event was not chosen at random. At the turn of the two summer months, reindeer herders head south, moving their herds to fall pastures. In spring, they travelled to the shores of the Pechora Sea, where the bite is not so strong and there is good reindeer lichen. When returning to the southern nomadic areas, reindeer herding teams and nomadic families use the same routes, which intersect near settlements. Actually, even before the introduction of the new red date of the calendar, they met, exchanged news, held sports competitions and organised feasts. Since 2023, authorities have added a little more order to the spontaneous celebration, as well as timed important events. Thus, on Reindeer Herder's Day, winners of industry competitions and veterans of the industry are honoured and valuable prizes are awarded. The three best reindeer farms in the region receive prizes of RUB 150,000 for first place, RUB 125,000 for second and RUB 100,000 for third, respectively. Brigades also fight for the cash prize, which is RUB 70,000 to the winner, and RUB 60,000 and RUB 50,000 for the second and third places. Also, as long as the reindeer herders are in roughly the same place, the authorities use this chance to transfer orders for goods that the tundra dwellers have left all year round.

For tourists, the Reindeer Herder's Day in NAA is a unique opportunity to experience the culture of nomadic reindeer herders, so to speak, in its original form. Because the event is new and is held mostly 'for its own', guests encounter unedited, raw ethnography. At the Taste of Tundra contest in the Krasnoye settlement, you can taste dishes that reindeer herders prepare for themselves, without taking into account the tastes, habits and opinions of tourists from the mainland. These include chowder made from the blood, heart and entrails of deer, blood sauce in which boiled meat is dipped, clarified fat, as well as raw fish caught in the surrounding rivers. If you want to have a very exclusive experience, you can go to a more remote settlement for the holiday. There you will be able to taste the warm deer brain, which was put on a plate in front of you directly in the process of carcass cutting, pancakes with blood and skin from young antlers (horns) of deer burned on the fire.



Nenets also actively exchange and trade their own clothes, utensils and jewellery made by their own hands. Here you can buy items of not only aesthetic but almost of museum value. A special treat is the sporting events. Nenets hold traditional reindeer sledge races, throw axe and harness, tug of war and rope, practice buckling over sledges and traditional wrestling. Most of these competitions are many hundreds of years old, for they were born out of the traditional occupations of reindeer herders. No credentials or diplomas are required to participate, but you must apply in advance. However, the Nenets are characterised by cordiality and hospitality, so they may allow a guest to participate in the competitions.

All Reindeer Herder's Day events in NAA are organised under the patronage of the regional government in cooperation with local subsoil users. NNK-Severnaya Neft LLC contributed in 2023, and RN-Shelf-Arctic LLC contributed in the current year. 

Image attribution: Shutterstock