Santa Claus exists. Don’t believe us? Head to the Santa Claus Village in Lapland, Finland, and meet him in person, complete with his flowing white beard, red outfit, cap and reindeer! Don’t forget to thank him for spreading goodwill and, yes, the gifts that he’s been leaving you all these years.
The legend of Santa can be traced back to Saint Nicholas, a Christian saint who was known to be a gift-giver. Over the years, St. Nicholas and British folklore character Father Christmas have resulted in the modern-day avatar of Santa Claus – jolly, kind and spreading good cheer. Ho ho ho!
While you visit Santa with the kids, here’s what else you can do in this Arctic country:
Things To Do In Finland
Photo opp on the Arctic Circle line: The Arctic Circle line, painted in white, lies in the village of Lapland. You can take pictures standing on the line!
Attend Winter Circus Dream: Acrobats, magicians and dancers make this annual event a family favorite. The shows, held at The Cable Factory in Helsinki, start from November and continue till 6th
Sing Along In Christmas Concerts: What’s Christmas without good ol’ carol singing? In churches and concert halls, Cantores Minores (the Choir of Boys and Young Men of Helsinki Cathedral) sing Finnish choir music and international masterpieces. Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, La la la la
Shop for Christmas goodies: Cable Factory’s Christmas Festival, held from 12th till 21st December, is a grand event that you can’t miss out on. Pick up hand-made decorations, seasonal food treats, and jewellery for loved ones here and at other Christmas markets. Be the Santa for your loved ones and buy them presents!
Have a hot cuppa Finnish coffee: In the Empire styled old town of Helsinki, the café scene is alive and thriving. Enjoy coffee with seasonal pastries like Runeberg tarts and Shrove buns at Kalle Freese, La Torrefazione and other cafés.
Dog sledding: Sledding through the wilderness is an adventure that completes the Finnish vacation. Pass through unspoiled terrain and snow-clad trees as huskies pull your sled through the trails of Lapland. Let the huskies show you around Lapland!
Did You Know?
Everyone loves Santa! So much so that almost 15,000 people dressed up as Santa in Portugal and set a new Guinness World Record in 2010 for the largest Santa parade.
Ever dreamt of becoming Santa Claus? You can get a certified Santa degree from Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School and other universities! (Yes, it’s true!)
Here’s something for the Gen-Y! According to data from Facebook posts, two weeks before Christmas is one of the most popular times for couples to break up.
In USA, there’s a concept called ‘Rent-A-Santa’. As a part of this, close to 20,000 people undergo training for Christmas season (including how to avoid garlic, onions for meals).
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