Due to the contacts of the Old Norse with the Finnic peoples, some influence on the latter can be observed. On specific occasions a comparison of these two can prove useful. The following account is reported by John Scheffer in the History of Lapland (1674), page 144, c. 10:
“Sámi men run a sharp knife through the heart of a reindeer buck and gather the blood from the heart. The image of Thor is placed on an altar and is offered to by drawing crosses with the blood on the chest of the deity. Some of the fat is also offered, and the horns of the sacrificed deer, the skull and its feet are placed behind the deity. The rest of the animal is placed in a coffer and is used in the household. The Sámi offered to Thor in the autumn.”
It is likely, that what we observe here may in fact be a Sámi adaptation of the Winter Nights celebration. Note also that the author identifies the Sámi deity with the Old Norse god Thor, whom we would expect to be invoked and sacrificed to in connection with the harvest.
“Sámi men run a sharp knife through the heart of a reindeer buck and gather the blood from the heart. The image of Thor is placed on an altar and is offered to by drawing crosses with the blood on the chest of the deity. Some of the fat is also offered, and the horns of the sacrificed deer, the skull and its feet are placed behind the deity. The rest of the animal is placed in a coffer and is used in the household. The Sámi offered to Thor in the autumn.”
It is likely, that what we observe here may in fact be a Sámi adaptation of the Winter Nights celebration. Note also that the author identifies the Sámi deity with the Old Norse god Thor, whom we would expect to be invoked and sacrificed to in connection with the harvest.