Lapland, Home Of Santa Claus

Christmas, probably the most anticipated holiday of the year, has arrived and today we thought we’d talk about a special place, beloved by both children and grown-ups: we all know the legend according to which Santa Claus lives in Lapland, where he receives letters from children around the world and where Rudolph and the elves reside.
Lapland is a geographic area mostly covered in snow that stretches over a large part of Finland and Sweden, within the Arctic Circle.
The small town of Rovaniemi (located in Finland) is, at least in this time of year, the liveliest place in Lapland – it is the city that is hosting Santa Claus and its elf helpers.

What Can You Visit In Rovaniemi

The city’s main attraction is Santapark, hosting the Santa’s Office. Tourists from all around the world come here to learn about the legend – it is said that the character of Santa Claus is based, in fact, on two older characters: Saint Nicholas (also known as Sinterklaas, from the Dutch folklore) and Christkindl (Christ child, in German folklore).
Santapark is a place where you will have the chance to relive those magical moments from your childhood when you believed in Christmas stories. Here is where children can meet Santa, tell him their wishes and take pictures with him. Also, in Santapark the elves have a workshop where they create Christmas decorations and the children who visit the workshop can help the elves decorate the Christmas tree.

The Santa’s Post Office is where you can send letters and postcards with Santa’s special postmark to any destination you want. The post office is located in Santa Claus Village, where you can also find many souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants.

Other Attractions In Lapland

Lapland attracts tourists from all around the world not only because of Santa Claus. This region is characterized by a rich biodiversity: mountains, unexplored forests, glaciers, swamps and deltas populated by reindeers, bears, wolves and many species of birds. Also, archaeologists have discovered traces of human life dating back from the Ice Age and fossils of extinct species.

A reindeer sleigh ride while watching the aurora borealis (the northern lights) will certainly feel like a dream come true and a memory to cherish all your life.
Skiing and other winter sports can be practiced in the area and if you are not afraid of the cold, you could try ice fishing.