Memory of the Pomor Trade celebrated in Vardø

Vardo is a small town in the north of Norway with a small population of 2.500 people, but during the summer time it increases quickly because of the continuous tourists flow. All the tourists are eager to see northern mountains, charming tundra, and indigenous Sami people as well as to visit the Pomor Museum.

The tourists are coming here not only for natural and historical attraction but also to visit the Russian-Norwegian Pomor Festival which is carried out every summer during 20 years already. For the last several years the festival is traditionally visited by the big delegation from Arkhangelsk.

Sister cities
Not everyone knows that Arkhangelsk and Vardo are sister cities. The connection between these two cities has been existing for centuries. Already in XVII-XVIII centuries Pomor people imported bread to Norway and exchanged it into cod fish. It is well known in Arkhangelsk that Pomor people due to their love to cod were called “cod-eaters”, surprisingly thanks to Norwegian fishermen! Arkhangelsk province was some kind of a gate for the Norwegian fish export to Russia and provided with fish not only closely situated regions but the rest of Russia as well.

Famous Margaritinskaya Fair was initially a “fish” fair, particularly in correlation with the fair hundreds of Norwegian ships full of fish came annually to the coast of the province. Margaritinskaya fair was regenerated only 10 years ago as a potential basis for the international cooperation. And now Norwegians come annually to the fair. Margaritinskaya Fair has become a kind of invitation in return for Vardo citizens after the Festival and they come to visit Arkhangelsk with pleasure. In Vardo the Pomor Association was founded. Norwegians are proud of it and are doing their best to strengthen cooperation with the Arkhangelsk region.

According to Ivan Moseev, the leader of the Arkhangelsk Pomor delegation, inhabitants of the Northern Norway consider themselves to be different from the rest of the population. There are some reasons for that: climatic conditions of the region, close connection to the sea and uniqueness of the Sami culture.

Stoltenberg visited the festival
The Festival, which was carried out in July-August, 2010 became the 20th. The ex-Foreign Minister of Norway Mr. Thorvald Stoltenberg took part in it. He was the first in the development to develop a promotion of the idea of regional cross-border cooperation in the Barents region.

- Before that regional cross-border cooperation was almost not known in Russia, and today the whole world is using the experience of the Barents region, says Ivan Moseev.

It is interesting to know that cooperation between the Arkhangelsk region and Vardo is developing only because of the efforts of social organisations such as the Pomor Association. People of art, singers, craftsmen, museums representatives come annually to the Festival.

Every year the membership of the Arkhangelsk delegation changes. This year 20 lucky people participated in the Festival, including the Pomor Ensemble, the Theatre of the Pomor Folklore “Syzemje”, representatives of the Malie Kareli Museum Alexandr Shayev and Vladimir Lomakin, historian Ryslan Davidov, artist Oleg Khromov and others.

- Becoming friends is essential
Norwegians love Russian culture, in particular they enjoyed the Theatre of the Pomor Folklore “Syzemje”. The art of this Theatre is rooted in the traditional culture of Pinega region. This is true authentic Russian culture! The way the talk, the way they sing and their costumes reflect the culture of the North. Norwegians eagerly take part in the Festival bringing on stage different art collectives, ensembles and exhibit works of artists. Ivan Moseev explains:

- Norwegians are very interested in our culture and trust us. They even gave us a ride on a ship of the coastguard, which soon will take part in the NATO military drill. Amazingly there were no limitations for us; we could take pictures around the whole ship. Of course some doors were closed, but we took it for granted.

- Of course cultural exchange is of great importance, but I am happy, that people find common language, become friends, interpersonal communication is essential. Besides, we can get a lot of Norwegian competence, for example, in offshore oil and gas development, as Russia has no experience in it. Vardo, by the way, can become an additional safety base within the offshore development, says Moseev.

Pomor Brotherhood initiatory rite
Every year at the Pomor Festival the “Pomor Brotherhood initiatory rite” is carried out. At the moment there are 20 members in the Pomor Brotherhood, among them are only those, who brought something in the Pomor development. The rite reminds of the knight rite, bur instead of the sword, the "kytilo" (кутило) – traditional Pomor hand harpoon for sea mammals is used.

The book “Pomor tales” was presented on the Festival for the first time. It is a fairytale book, which includes tales on Norwegian, Russian and Pomor languages. There are 11 fairytales for children among which 7 are Pomor Norwegian tales and 4 – Pomor Russian tales. Ivan Moseev is the author-complier of the book, the editor is Anastasia Gorter-Uhonvik, and the illustrator is an artist Oleg Khromov. The books are not for sale. They will be given as a present to schools and libraries in Finnmark and in the Arkhangelsk region.

Ivan Moseev emphasised, that the book was made for the cultural bonds strengthening, not for the commercial benefits. Illustrations for the book were made within two months; the illustrator himself took part in the Festival. Oleg Khromov was born in Vinogradovsky region, Konetsgorje village.

- The brightest memory from my youth is my Granny’s old Pomor language, sometimes not understandable but so close to the heart. My childhood memories became the basis of the illustrations. I feel the responsibility to pass a part of that culture, which is now melting to the next generation. Now I know, I do not live in vain. I hope that Norwegian-Russian cooperation will be developing in future as the Pomor spirit lives, says Khromov

Text: Ksenia Kipurova