Lapland – Christmas in the Santa Land

Christmas in the Santa Claus Land, Lapland, is an unparalleled Christmas experience. At Santa Claus Village, you can meet Santa at his office, you can cross the Arctic Circle every day, and you can read the story of Rudolph written in the Northern Lights.

With snow-covered landscapes, cozy log cabins, and the magic of Northern Lights, Christmas in Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, is a very special experience. It is the land where even the Christmas tree is often decorated with candles and handmade ornaments.

Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Lapland is home to Santa Claus Village. Located in the town of Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village is a popular attraction during the holiday season. In this Christmas-themed park you can meet Santa Claus and his elves, leave letters to Santa in his office, go on a sleigh ride pulled by a reindeer through the snow-covered forests, and enjoy a range of festive activities and events.

The village also features a range of shops, restaurants, and cafes, where visitors can buy traditional Christmas gifts, decorations, and food. Some of the most popular Christmas treats in Lapland include gingerbread cookies, mulled wine, and roasted chestnuts.

“What is Christmas? It is the tenderness of the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future.” –

Agnes M. Pahro

Magic of Northern Lights

Northern Lights. For many they are once-in-a-lifetime experience. Lapland is known for its beautiful winter scenery, with snow-covered forests, frozen lakes, and the Northern Lights visible in the night sky. In northern Lapland, the lights shine just about every other clear night between September and March. If the night sky looks clear and starry, you probably have a good chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis.

Yule log

Painting of the Yule Log by Robert Alexander Hillingford (1825-1904)

The Yule log is a large log that is lit on Christmas Eve and burned throughout the holiday season to bring warmth and good luck. It is an ancient folk tradition which exact origin is unclear. People bring the trunk of the Yule tree inside and stick the big end of it into the fireplace. The log would feed the fire through the 12 Days of Christmas (from Christmas Day through the evening of the 5th of January – known as Twelfth Night).

Today, a Yule log is still a Christmas tradition in Lapland. Of course, the tradition has been modernized because it is very difficult (if not impossible) to burn a huge tree trunk at modern home. Now it could be just a large log burned in the fireplace on Christmas Eve. It could be a log decorated with candles and put as a centerpiece on the Christmas dinner. It also could be a log-shape chocolate cake enjoyed as a Christmas dessert.

“Christmas is the season of joy, of gift-giving, and of families united.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Christmas Eve  with family and friends

Christmas Eve is an important day in Lapland, and is often spent with family and friends, enjoying a traditional Christmas meal, such as roast pork and mashed potatoes.

“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.” – Peg Bracken

After dinner, children often leave their shoes by the fireplace, in the hopes that Santa Claus will leave gifts for them in the morning.

“Freshly cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin – inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night.” – John J. Geddes