The Santa Claus Village located in Rovaniemi is undoubtedly the highlight of any trip to Lapland. This unique attraction is located right on the line of the Arctic Circle, which gives it an extra magical touch. Crossing this symbolic border is a unique experience, which is commemorated with a special sign - you can literally stand with one foot on one side and the other on the other side of the Arctic Circle!

The history of the place is as fascinating as the visit itself. Few people know that the oldest building in Santa Claus Village, the so-called Roosevelt Cottage, was built in 1950 specifically for the visit of Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the US President. It was from this moment that the transformation of Rovaniemi into the world capital of Santa Claus began. After the devastation of World War II, when the city lay in ruins, it was decided to use the legend of Santa Claus to rebuild not only the infrastructure, but also the spirit of the residents.

The centerpiece of the village is, of course, Santa's Office, where you can meet the host himself. Interestingly, Santa accepts visitors all year round, not just during the holiday season! During a personal meeting, he talks to visitors in their native language (he reportedly speaks more than 10 of them), listens to wishes and poses for souvenir photos. For many children, but also adults, this is a dream come true and a moment full of authentic emotions.

The village offers much more than just a meeting with Santa Claus. Here you will find Santa's Main Post Office, from where you can send cards and letters with a special Arctic stamp. Each year, more than half a million letters from children around the world go here! Postal workers, dressed as elves, help with the mailing and respond to correspondence on behalf of Santa Claus.

For lovers of local legends, workshops and demonstrations at the Elf Academy, where you can learn the secrets of Santa's helpers and find out what their daily life is like, will be fascinating. According to Sami stories, elves have inhabited the forests and mountains of Finland for thousands of years, and their job is not only to help Santa Claus, but also to protect nature and wildlife.

The traditional architecture of the village is also worth noting - the red wooden houses blend in perfectly with the surrounding nature and relate to local building traditions. In winter, when everything is covered with a layer of snow and the sky is illuminated by the aurora borealis, the place looks like a vividly taken out of a Christmas fairy tale.

Santa Claus Base (Santa Claus Base) is a lesser-known, but equally fascinating attraction located at Joulumaantie 1 in Rovaniemi. It's a place that provides a sort of backstage for Santa Claus' activities and allows you to take a look behind the scenes of his daily work. Unlike the crowded Village, the Base offers a more intimate experience and an opportunity to learn more about the Sami traditions associated with the figure of Santa Claus.

According to local legends, Santa Claus has not always lived in Rovaniemi. Sami people believe that his true home is on Mount Korvatunturi, located on the Finnish-Russian border. It was there that for centuries he was supposed to listen to the wishes of children from all over the world - for the shape of the mountain resembles an ear. However, over time, as Nikolai's fame grew, he decided to move some of his activities closer to civilization, while maintaining the mystery of his original home.

At the Base, you can learn fascinating stories about how Santa's reindeer gained the ability to fly. According to one Sami tale, this was due to magic mushrooms that grow only in Finnish forests. Another legend tells of a special food prepared by elves that gives the reindeer supernatural abilities. Whatever the version, an encounter with these majestic animals is an integral part of a visit to the Base.

Of a completely different nature is SantaPark - Santa's underground cave, located at Tarvant 1. This unique attraction was created inside a rock cave, which in itself is an extraordinary experience. The temperature inside stays at +14°C all year round, which, especially in winter, is a nice change from the Arctic chill outside.

The history of SantaPark dates back to 1998, when it was decided to create a place that would combine traditional Sami Santa stories with modern forms of entertainment. A natural rock formation was used, transforming it into a magical world full of attractions. Interestingly, the cave is located 50 meters underground, which, according to local beliefs, is supposed to symbolize an elf kingdom hidden from the world.

One of SantaPark's biggest attractions is the Elf School, where children (and adults!) can learn the basic skills needed by Santa's helpers. After completing the course, one receives an official elf diploma, which, according to local tradition, ensures good luck for the whole year. There is also an Elf Factory in the cave, where you can get a sneak peek at the process of making toys and other holiday gifts.

A fascinating feature of SantaPark is the Ice Gallery, where the temperature drops to -10°C. There you can admire ice sculptures depicting scenes from Sami legends and fairy tales. According to local stories, the gallery's ice comes from a magical lake whose water never completely freezes, even in the coldest winters.

Also worth mentioning is the Magic Train, which takes visitors on a journey through the four seasons of Lapland. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how the landscape and life in this part of the world changes depending on the season. Of particular interest is the section devoted to the polar night, when the sun does not rise for several dozen days and the sky is lit only by stars and auroras.

Santa Claus Holiday Village, located at Tähtikuja 2 in Rovaniemi, is a unique accommodation complex that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of Lapland. It's not just a place to stay, but a true extension of the Santa Claus experience. Each cottage in the village has been designed according to traditional Lapland architecture, but equipped with modern amenities.

The history of the place is closely linked to the development of tourism in Rovaniemi. In the 1980s, when the popularity of Santa Claus Village began to grow rapidly, there was a need to create a unique accommodation that would be an attraction in its own right. Thus was born the idea for the Holiday Village - a place where the magic of the holidays lasts all year round.

Each cottage in the village has a name associated with Sami legends. Of particular interest is the 'Tonttula' house, which means 'House of the Elves' in Finnish. According to local stories, this is the house where the elves sleep when they come from distant forests to help Santa Claus during his busiest season. Guests sleeping in this cottage often report hearing quiet bells and whispers at night - supposedly these are elves coming to check if everything is alright!

The village also offers unique experiences, such as the Arctic Circle crossing ceremony. According to Sami beliefs, a person who crosses this magical line receives a special blessing from the spirits of the north, which is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity. The ceremony is accompanied by traditional Sami joik singing, one of the oldest types of music in Europe.

Near the Holiday Village is the Santa Claus store, also located at Tähtikuja 2. This is no ordinary souvenir store - it is a real treasure trove of Sami handicrafts and traditions. Here you can find unique products made of reindeer antlers, which according to local legends have protective properties and bring good luck to the owner.

Especially valuable are the traditional Sami puukko knives, handmade by local craftsmen. Each knife has a unique design on the handle, which tells the story of the maker's family. According to old beliefs, gifting such a knife to someone creates a bond between the giver and the recipient that can never be broken.

The store also sells traditional Sami kuksa cups, made of birch. The history of these vessels dates back to the time when the Sami led a nomadic lifestyle and needed lightweight but durable vessels. According to local stories, a drink drunk from a kuksa has special properties - it strengthens the spirit and gives energy even on the darkest days of the polar winter.

Note the original Sami amulets made of semi-precious stones, especially the local spectrolite stone, which is only found in Finland. According to legends, this stone was created when a meteor hit the earth thousands of years ago, bringing with it the energy of the cosmos. Spectrolite changes color depending on the angle of light, symbolizing the changeability of life and the need to adapt to new circumstances.

For lovers of local flavors, the store offers traditional Sami delicacies, such as dried reindeer meat and jams made from Arctic berries. Particularly noteworthy is the cloudberry, known as the 'gold of the north' - a berry with a unique flavor that grows only in the swamps of the Arctic Circle. According to old beliefs, cloudberry juice had healing properties and was used by shamans in healing ceremonies.