The magical world of reindeer herders

Santa’s not the only one with a sleigh of reindeer. In far northern Norway, Sami people practice an age old tradition of reindeer herding surrounded by spectacular beauty.

Santa’s not the only one with a sleigh of reindeer. In Tromso in far northern Norway, the indigenous Sami people practice an age old tradition of reindeer herding. You must be born into a reindeer herding family to become a herder and knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. Instinct and love. This is a wonderful time of the year in reindeer herding, but as beautiful as it is, as brutal it can be. The wild Arctic mountains with it´s predators is a tough terrain and the little ones need to learn fast that staying close to ones mothers is the only safe place to be. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Peekaboo. This is one of our reindeer, Reinert (his name), while he´s getting his gear on for some sledding action. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Hello world! I´m all brand new. A new born calve in mountains last May. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... I just love that feeling when I see them smile. This is Johan Isak and our two sons Isak and Lukas, down by the shoreline of our camp at the peninsula. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Father and son. This is a picture of our older son Isak and his father, Johan Isak. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Off we go ... sledding on the peninsula. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Alfa male. Such a strong proud creature. This picture was taken when we were marking the calves in autumn. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... May we always keep our spirits free ... our hearts wild and our eyes wide open. This happy encounter was last winter while feeding the herd on the peninsula. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Johan Isak leads the sledding on the peninsula on a gorgeous day. Life is amazing. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... This is our two sons, Isak and Lukas, sharing a brotherly warm moment. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Morning meal with Johan Isak. In this picture we had just gotten a part of our herd down from the mountains to the peninsula. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Hillside hopping. A mother with her calve running in the mountains. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... What a little beauty and what a pose. A little calve in the mountains last May. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Animals surely know a lot more than we think and think, a lot more than we know. This is our friend Hege joining the feeding of the herd one fine morning at our camp by the peninsula. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... In the best of company during beautiful Arctic sunset. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... In this picture we´re cooking some coffee over the bonfire in lavvo (sami tent). Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... Northern lights and bonfire nights. Some nights the skies are blazing with aurora and sitting outside with the herd feels like a blessing indeed. Picture: Piia Kemppinen/Tromso Arctic Reindeer

The Reindeer family of Tromso ... The Reindeer family of Tromso, Norway. Photographer Piia Kemppinen and her partner Johan Isak and their two sons Isak and Lukas. Picture: Alessandro Belelli