Pajala Fair

Pajala fair in the past
It was in the time of the Kengis preacher Olof Ekström (Kengis is just south of Pajala) in the 19th century that the well-known Kengis fair began.

Traders came to Kengis market from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia. There was trade mainly in skins, meat, fish and tobacco.

The tradesmen and locals celebrated wildly during the fair. The traders brought plenty of spirits, and there was a distillery in Kengis, whose products were very popular.

In 1865 the council decided to abolish Kengis fair, because it was considered detrimental to public morals. Despite this decision the market continued for another fifty years. The last Kengis fair took place in 1907.

Pajala fair today
Nowadays the fair takes place in the community of Pajala. As well as everything that is required of a good old-time fair, there are also quality home industry products, home-baked cakes, artefacts, and art exhibitions. In the evening there is hectic nightlife. In short, Pajala fair has everything a fair should have and more.

Pajala fair always takes place at the second weekend after midsummer. The fair area is 1 1/2 kilometres long and has about 250 stalls.

The Northern Lights Festival

The Northern Lights festival began in 1991 on what was then a football pitch in Pajala. At the time, a course in reindeer keeping was going on, and a participant, Eilert Kaati, decided to realise his idea of a reindeer-racing tournament.

The tourist bureau liked the idea, and a mini fair was arranged, with local politicians invited to take part in different events.

That was the start of this annual festival that lights up the February darkness in Pajala.

In 1992 the first "real" Northern Lights festival was arranged in central Pajala. Since then the festival has grown and developed. The whole festival is framed in snow, frost and Northern Lights. It attracts thousands of visitors for three days during the last weekend in February.

Events in the sports hall
At the annual fair in Pajala sports hall, local companies and artisans display genuine Torne valley handicrafts, painting, furniture, books and clothes. Stage performances and the café add to the friendly atmosphere.

The culture scholarship
Culture has always been an important ingredient. Scholarships are awarded every year to persons from the Torne valley for achievements in both culture and business. The donators vary, and are appointed by the Torne valley council.

Romp Week (Römppaviikko)

Michaelmas
Romp Week during Michaelmas is an ancient feast in the Torne valley and the rest of Scandinavia. Michaelmas was when winter was approaching at the end of September. For servants and farmhands it was one of the big events of the year. It was a week of merriment and recreation after a hectic summer and autumn.

In this particular week maids and hands were hired for a new year. So they could also move and seek new employment during this week.

A week off
So Romp Week was more or less a week's holiday. People danced and had fun all week. Michaelmas was a time for love. This was when many couples got engaged or met one another.

Pay day for the workers
The fact that these workers were now paid a year's wages was certainly an important factor in all this celebration.

Romp Week today
In 1987 Pajala celebrated its 400th jubilee. A jubilee committee was formed under the leadership of Bertil Isaksson. It was his idea to revive the ancient tradition of Römppaviikko (Romp Week) in connection with the jubilee. A dance was arranged every evening for a week.

Different villages in turn were invited to arrange daytime activities to be rounded off by a dance. On Saturday, the final day, a market took place on the square in Pajala with handicraft and local delicacies. The grand finale was the dance in central Pajala.

As there is a deficit of women in Pajala municipality, the committee invited women from all over the world for this week. Among all the women invited to Pajala, about 30 have remained. And Romp Week is here to stay