Children across the world believe that Santa Claus, who keeps track of behaviour of all the kids across the world throughout the year, and brings them gifts of toys and candy to well-behaved children, and coal to naughty children on Christmas Eve, lives somewhere in an icy dreamy town close to the North Pole and with the aid of his elves makes the toys in his workshop and then the flying reindeer pull his sleigh around the world.
Santa Claus’ original home lies in the mysterious Korvatunturi (Ear Fell) in the Finnish Lapland. Since the exact location is a secret, known only to a chosen few, he decided to establish an office in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, in 1985. Rovaniemi received the status of the Official Hometown of Santa Claus in 2010 and tourists started flocking to this Finnish town to have a sneak peek of his life.
From abroad, Rovaniemi is easy to get to by plane via Helsinki. Daily flights between Rovaniemi and Helsinki are operated by Finnair throughout the year and it takes about one and half hour to cover the distance. In the winter – the Christmas season in particular – charter flights with hotel packages are offered from many countries. Of late, Indian families with children have also begun visiting in significant numbers.
December and January are snowy months shrouded in the darkness of the Polar Night. The sun comes out in February and marks the start of the snowy, light-filled spring. March is often terrific for Northern Lights viewing. But Christmas is a special time, as many flock to this Arctic town to meet Santa in person and experience the festive season in magical wintery surroundings. The winter is a great time for a number of activities both in the snow outside and experiencing local culture inside.
Rovaniemi is a relatively small town with short distances. In the city centre, everything is close to everything else and walking is the best way to get around. Finland’s currency is the Euro (€). Unlike many other European countries, Finland does not use one and two-cent coins. The smallest coin in circulation is the five-cent coin. There is no currency exchange in Rovaniemi; hence cash needs should be well planned in advance. However, debit and credit cards are widely accepted. In Finland, tips are neither common nor expected.
If you visit Lapland in the winter, remember to dress warm and in several layers! However, there is no need to worry if you do not own proper Arctic gear, as you can also rent clothing from many of the safari companies located in the centre of Rovaniemi. Warm, sturdy shoes are vital, as well as thermal socks and gloves to escape from the frostbite.
There is a variety of accommodation facilities available in Rovaniemi ranging from normal hotels to holiday villages, ice cabins, glass igloos, chalets, aurora cabins, hostels, guest houses and camping sites.
The city’s most famous resident can be visited every day of the year in Santa Claus Village, a modern amusement park right on the Arctic Circle, that draws more than 500,000 annual visitors from all around the world. Santa Claus Village is open every day of the year and getting there is easy with local bus number 8, Santa’s Express or Santa Claus bus which leaves hourly from Rovaniemi city centre. Alternatives include taxi, car or walking – it is only eight km away. The village is Lapland’s best-known attraction and a resort in its own right. It is home to approximately 50 outlets in the form of activity companies, shops, restaurants and cafés. Husky and reindeer rides, snowmobile tours, design items and souvenir shops, ice and snow constructions, an igloo hotel and holiday village accommodation are all available there.
The lively town centre of Rovaniemi is great for shopping; three shopping centres along with scores of specialised shops and boutiques cater to all preferences from fashion and shoes to sports equipment and classic Finnish design brands like Marimekko and Iittala. Local arts and handicrafts – or arctic design, as they like to call it – can be found in several shops around Rovaniemi.
A month before Christmas, the eyes of the world turn to Rovaniemi as Santa Claus declares the Christmas season open in Santa Claus Village. It also marks the start of the busy season in Rovaniemi, as numerous visitors are keen to experience the true magic of Christmas in the official hometown of Santa Claus. Another highlight of the year is December 23, when Santa departs on his mission to hand out presents to children all around the globe.
However, this year Santa is also facing some difficulty and had to depend on a virtual tour. There is also a YouTube channel run by Santa Claus, which has seen a sharp 50 pc rise in the viewership this Christmas season. As foreign travellers are unable to visit Lapland, their interest and enthusiasm in Santa Claus are being channelised through social media and online video sites to lift up the global Christmas spirit.
Photo Credit: VisitRovaniemi
