Finland: Helsinki and Santa's Village – Part 2

Lapland is the northernmost region of Finland. It is a sparsely populated area with around 180,000 people and shares borders with Sweden, Norway, Russia, and the Baltic Sea. The people who live in Lapland are the Sami. The temperatures there can drop as low as -35 °C. During our trip, we experienced -14 °C.

It is a land of natural, abundant snow, where even a light flurry during the day is completely normal. Lapland is home to Santa Claus, reindeer, elves, huskies, the midnight sun, and the northern lights.

These are the activities we set out to do:

• husky rides,
• meet Santa Claus,
• visit Santa's village,
• tour of the ArcticSnow hotel that is carved out of ice every year,
• see the northern lights,
• enjoy the snow,
• get to know the city of Rovaniemi and its surroundings.

We experienced everything mentioned above, except for the northern lights, which sadly did not appear for us. Maybe next time, when we head north again.

In the centre of Rovaniemi, we had a cosy apartment with a sauna, where we warmed up properly after a day spent in the snow and cold. We moved along Rovaniemi on foot and used bus no. 8. For the bus, we paid 3.60 euros per adult and 1.80 euros per child. We took the Santa Claus bus to the airport, which cost 8 euros per person. The connections are excellent, so we did not need a car.

Husky ride

Driving in the snow and cold is an incredible experience. We booked our husky ride through Bearhill Husky Tour in Santa Claus Village. Our sled was pulled by 14 huskies. I recommend booking online, because during the peak season in December and January, you will not get a ride without a reservation.

We were greeted by a very friendly Italian woman who lives in Rovaniemi. She shared with us the background of the huskies’ lives and their fate as sled dogs. Our sled was pulled by Alaskan huskies, which are mixed breeds and therefore the strongest and fastest huskies. At first glance, they do not look like typical huskies, because we are used to Siberian huskies, which are lighter in colour and have fluffier coats.

Sled dogs spend their first year in kennels, where trainers teach and train them for pulling sleds. Not all huskies are born for this work, which becomes clear during their first year. All those that show a natural strength and drive are trained further, and after a year they are ready to race. The other huskies are rehomed to environments where they will be happiest, usually in family homes with children.

Huskies are extremely fast and durable dogs. They run up to 60 kilometres and eat up to two kilograms of meat a day. Huskies are suitable for sledding between the ages of seven and twelve, depending on each dog's interest and ability.

We met Santa Claus

It may seem like meeting Santa is an activity meant only for young children. But when you find yourself in Santa’s office, everything changes. No matter our age, we were all instantly curious. We spent a full two minutes with Santa, which is above average for this time of year. First, Santa greeted us in Slovenian, and then we had an interesting chat about our former Slovenian president Borut Pahor.

Santa is an older, friendly gentleman who does this job every day, all year round. There is only one Santa, and this role belongs to him alone. The visit is free, and you only pay if you want a photo with him. It is not compulsory, but it makes a nice keepsake. In addition to two photos, a video of the conversation with Santa is also available. You need to book your visit in advance. You either get a slot on the spot, or you do not. It is not possible to book the visit online. I will not describe how the visit with Santa goes, so it can remain a surprise.

Santa's Village

Santa Claus Village at Christmas feels just like a fairy tale. It is full of festive lights, snow, elves, reindeer, and people from all over the world. Besides the huskies, Santa, reindeer, Mrs Claus’s café, and the Snowman World amusement park, we also visited Santa’s Post Office, where letters from children and adults from all over the world are collected.

Arctic SnowHotel

We also wanted to see this awesome landmark up close. The hotel is carved anew every year, so it is different and unique each time. We drove to the hotel, as it is only a 30-minute drive from the centre of Rovaniemi. Anyone can visit it if they pay the entrance fee. Guests only sleep in the rooms, and during the day they must leave so that the rooms can be seen by visitors.

Typical Finnish Christmas dishes

The most common dishes on Finnish tables at Christmas Eve are stews served with ham. The dishes are hearty and simple, usually made with just a few ingredients. The Finnish motto is: "less is more". The traditional dishes listed below are difficult to find in restaurants, and in some cases, you cannot get them at all.

• Rutabaga – a stew made from turnip.
• Carrot stew.
• Potato stew (sweetened or not, depending on the region).
• Rosolli – a salad made from cooked beetroot, carrot, and potato, usually with apples and pickled cucumbers. The salad is eaten as a cold side dish. Rosolli is often served with whipped or sour cream dressing. The cream is called kermaviili, which is a type of viili made with sour cream. It is poured with vinegar or beetroot pickling liquid, which also turns it pink.

Typical Finnish Christmas breakfast

A typical Christmas breakfast is rice porridge, usually served with sugar and cinnamon. According to tradition, whoever finds an almond hidden in a pot of porridge will have good luck.

Final thoughts

We liked Finland a lot. December has a special charm because of the snow in the true sense, not just slush. What impressed us the most was the sauna and the plunge into the icy lake, and, of course, Lapland itself. This region is truly something special, with snow crunching under your feet and New Year lights that make Finland feel so magical. Finns speak English very well, as it is just one of the three languages taught in schools.

Hyvää joulua (Merry Christmas)!