What do Samoyed and Pyrenean Shepherd have in common?
Samoyed (dog) The Samoyed ( or ; Russian: Самоедская собака or Самоед ) is a breed of large herding dog, from the spitz group, with a thick, white, double-layer coat. It takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. These nomadic reindeer herders bred the fluffy white dogs to help with the herding, and to pull sleds when they moved. An alternate name for the breed, especially in Europe, is Bjelkier.
Sampy A sampy is an amulet or idol of spiritual and political importance among numerous ethnic groups in Madagascar. Amulets and idols fashioned from assorted natural materials have occupied an important place among many Malagasy communities for centuries. "Ody", personal amulets believed to protect or allocate powers to the wearer, were commonplace objects possessed by anyone from slave children to kings. The name "sampy" was given to those amulets that, while physically indistinguishable from "ody", were distinct in that their powers extended over an entire community. The "sampy" were often personified - complete with a distinct personality - and offered their own house with keepers dedicated to their service.