Lappalainen

"Lappalainen" (plural lappalaiset) is a term that usually refers to a Sámi person. Traditionally and in Finnish folklore it has, however, also been used of other groups of people, such as nomads, those who live by hunting, gathering and fishing, or those who live in remote locations.

Origin and usage
The origin of the word has long been debated. One theory suggests that it's connected to the Finnish word "lappea" ("periphery", "edge", "flat"). However, a more likely theory states that the word originated from the Norse. The Sámi used a term vuowjoš to refer to themselves, originating from the word vuowje ("wedge-shaped patch of fabric"). The Norse then translated that term to their own languages (Old Swedish lapper, Old Icelandic lappir, "patch of fabric"). The Finnic peoples loaned the word from the Norse, and the Russians loaned it from the Finnics. The Russian variation, lop '  or lopar ' , was also used to refer to the Nenets people as well as the Sámi.

The Karelians used the term to refer to anyone who lived north to them, regardless of their ethnicity, culture or language, including other Karelians; the Ludic used it of the South Karelians who lived north to them, for example.

Although the term originated as meaning the Sámi, by the Middle Ages it had already gained a much broader meaning. According to historian Jukka Korpela, "lappalainen" was a general term used to refer to anyone who lived in the wildlands; a group that was not unified by language, culture or lifestyle. Finns sometimes used the term "tuhkalappalainen" of the Sámi in order to differentiate them from other "lappalaiset".

In the 1960's–1970's, lappalainen was once again mostly used as a synonym for the Sámi. However, the term has seen a significant drop in usage since the 90's because it is seen as derogatory by some Sámi people. The term "saamelainen" is usually used instead.

In folklore
In folklore, lappalaiset were often connected to mythical creatures, such as giants and hiisis. Lappalaiset were magic users who could enchant and control people with their spells, make cattle fall ill or take away game. Lappalainen magicians were often portrayed in a negative light; the hero Väinämöinen's arch-enemy Joukahainen was also referred to as "Lappalainen". In some stories, it was the fighting between Väinämöinen and Joukahainen that caused the creation of the world; a story that's quite dualistic in nature.

More positive descriptions also exist, however. When used for good, the magic and handicrafts of lappalaiset were respected. Some Finns even went to learn from them. There were also mixed marriages, for example the mythical warlord Kirmukarmu married a lappalainen woman named Sinivuokko ("liverleaf").