The city of Rovaniemi is best visited on the eve of the New Year. The thing is that the most famous place in the world is located here - the village of that same Santa Claus. And to come here during the holidays would be very handy. The village has something to see for both children and adults.
Home of Santa Claus
The Finns themselves believe that the New Year's magician, who is called Yelopukki in these parts, lives on the Korvatunturi hill, near the Russian border, and his main residence is located in Rovaniemi. The village is not very big. The main place in the village of Santa Claus is his office and post office, where more than half a million letters are received annually from children from different parts of the world. By the way, they say that, fortunately for adults and children, everything that is conceived almost always comes true, if it does not concern financial issues.
On the territory of Rovaniemi there is a deer farm, a complex of residential cottages, shops, restaurants, slides and attractions. On the main square of the village of Santa Claus, every tourist will see a dazzling beauty of a Christmas tree - a symbol of the New Year.
Before the New Year and Christmas, Santa Claus comes to the village a large number of tourists. Basically, these are families with children. All kids dream of meeting Santa Claus in person. This can be done just in time for the holidays. You just need to get to the city of Rovaniemi. In the famous village, travelers will be met by elves - Santa's helpers. They will lead you to the wizard's office, but you will have to wait there, because there will be a lot of people who want to. Tourists will spend minutes of waiting in a luxurious warm hall, and will not freeze in the cold.
Anyone can visit the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi absolutely free. You will only have to spend money on a snack and buying souvenirs. Photo and video shooting on the territory is prohibited or will cost a lot of money. But, in none of the many other villages in Rovaniemi, you can feel like in a fairy tale. Here, even an adult will become a child for a while. Santa Claus Village - the most popular place winter holiday among tourists. That is why, having arrived in Finland, the first thing tourists rush to visit such popular villages of Rovaniemi.
Opening hours and prices
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi works all year round daily from 10 am to 5 pm. In the winter New Year's Eve season, the work schedule is extended by several hours. After visiting this amazing place from all the variety of villages in Rovaniemi, you can ride reindeer. The price of a child ticket is a maximum of 12 euros, an adult ticket is 25 euros. Recall that the entrance to the village is free. In contrast to the closely related underground theme park - Santa Park.
Finnish Lapland or Santa Claus Village - the birthplace of Santa Claus, locals call it Joulupukki. Finnish Santa looks the same as the well-known Santa Claus - in a red coat, hat, with a white beard. In the 19th century, he was dressed in a goatskin and had goat horns (on Finnish Joulu - Christmas, pukki - goat), hence the name Joulupukki. His wife Muori is the personification of winter. According to legend, gnomes help him. They live in the Echo Caverns throughout the year. There they monitor the behavior of children by listening to them. Before the start of Christmas, the gnomes sort through the mail, helping to prepare gifts. Today Santa Claus Village is popular tourist place Finland, where people come from all over the world to see the real Santa.
The Santa Claus apartment near Rovaniemi opened in 1985, but its history began in 1950. Then a small wooden hut was built, and in the 60s a kind of office was built. Over time, a whole village appeared, workshops, a puppet theater, an amusement park, a sales office and a Santa Claus post office, where letters from the guys come.
People from all over the world come to Rovaniemi, so thousands of guest languages are heard here. Christmas atmosphere in Lapland all year round. Therefore, Christmas events are constantly held in the town. At any time you can watch international concerts, puppet theater performances, skits with gnomes and elves. Envoys of goodwill and thousands of guests have traditionally begun to gather in Santa's Workshop. Santa Park will be able to give all tourists a fairy tale, here you can plunge into your childhood and spend time carefree.
The Santa Park entertainment center was built in 1998 in the Syväsenvaara cave at the level of the Arctic Circle. At any time, a fabulous Christmas reigns here. To get to the park, guests must walk 200 meters along the passage from the outer entrance to the cave to its center. There are galleries in the cave where four attractions are located. They are divided into several categories: large (where children can ride with their parents or only adults), children's (only for kids), family (for everyone). Among the attractions stands out the amazing Carousel - Sleigh Ride. She will be able to "fly" through the northern landscapes, through the dark days of winter to the sunny nights of the solstice. Also unique are: Santa's Helicopters - they look like a cockpit with pedals in it, and Rudolph's Ride - a very fast ride that causes an adrenaline rush.
IN Lapland come to see Santa Claus, real Christmas and participate in interesting fun activities. But Lapland is not only a Christmas holiday. Here you can see the most beautiful nature of the North, taste the amazingly delicious Sami food, visit year-round nature reserves and National parks. IN summer time amateurs rest in Lapland active rest and pristine nature. They participate in hiking, rafting on small forest rivers, fish on local lakes and rivers. In winter, tourists ride sleds, sledges, run around the slopes ski resorts. Some travelers want to be away from the hustle and bustle, take a break from the outside world, be alone with beautiful untouched nature.
Lapland is located in the northern part of Finland. Its area is 30% of the territory of Finland. You can get here by plane. The roads here are just great.
Lapland is the land of fairy tales. Snow-covered trees look like fantastic sculptures, skies shimmer with golden-pink hues, and deer walk along the roads. This country is the birthplace of Santa Claus, or, as he is called here, the Yellowpooks. Here, near the central city of Rovaniemi, his village is located. In the village there is a real Santa's office and his post office. In Lapland, you can meet gnomes who help Yellowpooks fulfill the wishes of children. And in the house of Santa Claus, on the Korvatunturi hill, people have never been. According to legend, only good spirits can get here.
A little about the Saami
The Saami are the indigenous people of Finland, living in Lapland. They are engaged in fishing, hunting and breeding deer. You can still ride a dog sled here. Modern Sami youth tries to live in step with the times. Many people leave for Helsinki, but the traditions of this people are very strong, they are carefully followed. Many Sámi do not know Finnish.
Lapland Tourism
Lapland has excellent conditions for recreation at any time of the year. Winter activities are popular - snowboarding and skiing. They also offer this interesting entertainment like snowmobile safaris, dog and reindeer sledding. In Rovaniemi, tourists can even get "reindeer rights" to drive this mode of transport. Here is the Arktikum Museum, the Santa Park amusement park, and in the suburbs of Rovaniemi there is the Ranua Arctic Zoo.
Pyhyatunturi fell deserves special attention, at a distance of 53 km from the Arctic Circle. It's popular ski resort. The skiing season starts from November and lasts until May. If the natural snow cover is not enough, it is supplemented with artificial one, thus favorable conditions for skiing are maintained throughout the season. It also offers snowshoeing through snow-covered forests and ice fishing.
A truly remarkable sight is the midnight sun, polar nights, northern lights. Tourists can admire this charm of glass igloos. In the village of Sodankylä, a "House of Radiance" was opened, in which, using a projector and mirrors, this natural phenomenon is artificially recreated.
In memory of the trip, you can bring products made from leather and deer antlers, as well as from arctic birch. Sold traditional Sami hats, costumes, mittens, handmade shoes.
©
"Where is Lapland?" - the kids are interested when they hear that it is mysterious place- the birthplace of Santa Claus and the habitat of the Snow Queen.
One area in four countries
It is impossible to say unequivocally where Lapland is located, in which country. And not because the area is bewitched - it simply does not exist, because Lapland was called the territory beyond the Arctic Circle. 400 thousand kilometers of Lapland are included in the northwestern part of Russia, Norway and Sweden, but a large proportion of the land belongs to Finland.
In this country, the region of Lapland officially exists with the capital Rovaniemi. It is inhabited by the Laplanders, or Sami. Therefore, we can assume that Finland is the correct answer to the question: “Where is Lapland located, in which state?”.
Snow and cold
Reviews of tourists note that Lapland is truly Dreamland. After all, even the harsh Arctic climate miraculously softens in those places where Lapland is located. Due to the warm influence of the Gulf Stream, summer in Lapland does not differ from the average European in terms of temperature.
From June to the end of October, the sun often shines here, a fresh wind blows, in addition, you can observe a beautiful northern phenomenon - white nights. Autumn in Lapland is elegant, in gold foliage, rich in mushrooms and berries.
Snow finally falls in October and lies until the end of May. For Christmas and New Year the polar night descends on the land of Lapland, adorned with the northern lights.
natural features
An amazing place in Lapland, where there is everything that a traveler who escaped from the crowded city can wish for. In the reviews, tourists write that comfortable Ylles is a paradise for those who prefer. On the hills, rising to a height of 500-700 meters, there are many trails of varying degrees of difficulty, jumps, slides and other entertainment for snowboarders and skiers.
A countless number of reservoirs, among which the Kemijoki River is the most famous, allow you to arrange interesting rafting trips and plenty of fishing. In their reviews, tourists share their impressions of excellent fishing on the sea coast, indented with fiords. Cod, mackerel, herring are perfectly caught here.
By visiting one of the 8 national parks of Lapland, you can get to know the nature of this part of the planet better. They move around the parks on dogs, on skis and snowmobiles. During a leisurely walk on foot, it is easy to notice the indigenous inhabitants of the Lapland forests - foxes, hares, arctic foxes, which hide under low birch trees or huge spruce trees.
Sights of Lapland
Reviews of tourists say that in Lapland there is something to do for both adults and children. Popular places for tourists in the capital of Rovaniemi (Lapland), where it is located:
- amusement park "Arktikum";
- ice palace Lumilinna;
- Siida Saami Museum;
- Aine Art Museum and much more.
Under the glass dome of the Arktikum amusement park in the Museum of Lapland, you can study the life and customs of the Sami people, see a unique exposition dedicated to shamans. It is interesting to know how they conjured and summoned spirits! Arktikum is also an interesting museum of the Arctic.
In the town of Kemi, there is a truly magical ice palace Lumilinna, where the cheerful spirits Arttu and Terttu live. Everything in the building is made of snow, even the beds, and average temperature indoors is +5. equipped with an ice restaurant, a children's playground, there is even a jewelry museum and a chapel - all made of snow and ice.
Saariselki is another ice village where Sami igloos are offered for lodging for the night with a icy transparent ceiling through which flashes can be seen. The village has an ice church, a bar and an ice sculpture gallery.
Things to Do in Lapland
Where Lapland is located, you can have a great time riding reindeer sleds. True, for this you need to complete a short driving course, after which you can boldly hit the road. Reindeer feel at ease in Lapland, because here they live most of all on earth.
Dog lovers will appreciate the opportunity to fly with a breeze in a husky team. Blue-eyed dogs are not as easy to command as it seems, but if everything worked out - how much fun the tourist experiences!
A guest of the Sami land will experience a unique experience when he sets off to plow the Gulf of Bothnia on a real icebreaker, while the bravest can even try to swim in the frozen water.
Home of Santa Claus
Many tourists know that where Lapland is located, Santa Claus lives. The gray-haired wizard in Rovaniemi has everything: his own airport, where tourists arrive, and a whole village where Santa Claus lives and works.
Together with the elves, he prepares gifts for good children all year round and answers their letters. At Christmas in Santa Claus Village, the festive events do not stop for a minute. Santa Claus shows visitors his reindeer and flying reindeer and issues a diploma certifying a visit to the Arctic Circle.
Lapland traditionally considered the home of Santa Claus. This frosty country occupies an area in the north of Sweden, Finland, Norway and in the west of the Kola Peninsula. This is the birthplace of the Lapps or Saami. The heraldic symbol of Lapland is Wild Man- a huge, red and hairy man with a club on his shoulder, dressed in a loincloth made of leaves. His Swedish name is Snomannen.
The Saami believe that this creature lives in hard-to-reach forests beyond the Arctic Circle. In Sweden and Finland, you can find sculptures, signs and posters depicting a popular character. Sometimes his statues stand at the crossroads of the dopor, images of the red Snomannen with a snow-white beard are painted on the cares, the walls of buildings. This large, ape-like, dirty, bearded creature has featured in Sámi legends since the Middle Ages.
Its body is covered with wool, resembling matting or bast, and emits a terrible stench. The ancient Sami portrayed him with horns and a huge club in euks. Snomannen has a wild, rabid disposition, he is intemperate and rude, lustful and depraved. His vices are gluttony and drunkenness. Lives Snomannen in northern chess in a cave or in a lair. It feeds mainly on reindeer meat.
In different areas of Lapland, the Wild Man has different names - Stallo, Klous, Div, Jadek, Jass, Klapperbock, Kinderfresser (which means "baby eater"), Tomasniklo. He is sometimes referred to as the Red Satan. Over the centuries, the brutal figure of the Wild Man changed and began to resemble a clown or a fair fool, this particular character is the forerunner of the modern Santa Claus.
Santa's helpers before he got the elves were devilish creatures covered in soot - Dark Helper, Krampus, Julgubben, Black Peter, Peltz Nickel and Ru Klass. They are very reminiscent of the Wild Man.
It is impossible not to notice how Snomannen's descriptions resemble those of Bigfoot or Yeti. The latter looks like a monkey, covered with coarse, dirty hair. Brow ridges protrude on his broad face, his nose is flattened, and his jaw is square. The upper limbs of the monster are much longer than the arms of a person. His feet are huge, and there is no wool on the soles.
IN mountainous areas Yeti sheds and in winter is covered with white wool. Bigfoot lives mainly in the polar regions, his favorite food is cranberries, his home is a cave or den. Bigfoot hunts a deer, eats its meat raw, and rips off its skin to sleep on it. Interestingly, the word "yeti" itself is similar to the Swedish word "jatte", which means "giant".
In January 2010, there were reports in Norwegian newspapers about how several teenagers were confronted by Sasquatch. They were picking cranberries in a remote area of Norway and noticed a huge ape-like creature in the distance. It deftly picked berries with both paws and sent them to the mouth. The creature sniffled and grumbled. The guys were afraid to come closer. Berry pickers spent the night in a light collapsible house. At night, some animal came to the house and itched on the corners, uttering a wild roar and almost knocking down the building.
In the morning, teenagers saw crushed bushes and excrement. They decided that it was Bigfoot. It is significant that one of the notes that tells about this incident was called "Snomannen's visit."
Everyone admits that Santa Claus's home is in Lapland, but several countries are fighting for the right to be considered his homeland. In Sweden, Tompteland is declared the headquarters of Santa Claus. Here, 360 million years ago, a meteorite hit the Earth's surface with a force equal to the explosion of a thousand atomic bombs. A crater was formed at the impact site, which eventually filled with water, so Lake Silyan appeared. It is in these places that, according to legend, the Wild Man, Snomannen, or, as the Sami call him, Stallo, lives in a dense forest.
In Tompland, Swedish Santa Claus lives with helpers, trolls, Snomannen and the Snow Queen.
Tourists visiting Tompteland during the Christmas holidays, in addition to Santa Claus, can also see our friend Snomannen. His face is black, and his body is dressed in animal skins, he holds a club in his hand, and a red cap flaunts on his head.
Sometimes Stallo, which means “metal man” in Sami, is dressed entirely in black or in a shiny suit. This tradition probably came from the Viking warriors who wore chain mail. According to Sami legends, Stallo especially likes to misbehave at Christmas. He rides on a sleigh and steals food from barns and cellars. He raises the wind, which lifts the hem of young girls, can get into bed with young widows or faithful wives whose husbands went hunting.
In order to appease Stallo and drive the libertine away from the matrimonial bedrooms, on Christmas Eve, the Sami leave porridge, beer and tobacco for him on the threshold of the house. Next to the wells, the Sami drive a pole into the ground. It serves so that Stallo can tie the sled to the pole. The Saami believe that if the monster does not find water and does not get drunk, he will break the skull of the child, suck out the brain and drink the blood. That is why he is called a baby eater.
Sled (in Sami pulka) Stallo harnessed by lemmings, wild rodents that live in the Arctic Circle. These animals were mentioned by the Catholic missionary priest Olaus Magnus, who visited Sweden in 1555. He claimed that in Lapland lemmings fall from the sky. According to the churchman, God thus punished the pagans because they did not want to accept Catholicism.
Sergei MIKHAILOV
