The Ultimate Guide to Santa Claus: Meet the Man, the Myth, the Legend!

Joonas
Mar 18
3 min read

So, you’re heading to Lapland, and you want to meet the real Santa Claus? Good news—you’re in the right place! Unlike those mall Santas with fake beards and questionable cookie preferences, the one and only Santa lives right here in Finland. And guess what? You can actually visit him! Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Santa, his reindeer, his elves, and where to find Christmas magic all year round.

1. Who is Santa Claus? (Spoiler: He’s Finnish!)

Santa Claus - Joulupukki in Finnish - isn’t just a storybook character; he’s a living legend in Lapland! While other countries have their own Santa traditions, Finland proudly claims the real deal. He’s been living in the Arctic Circle for centuries, preparing for Christmas, feeding his reindeer, and—of course—reading letters from children around the world.

2. Where Can You Meet Santa?

If you’ve always dreamed of meeting Santa in person, you’re in luck! He welcomes visitors every single day at his official home in Rovaniemi, Finland and in Tonttula, Levi. 🎅 Santa Claus Village (Rovaniemi) is Santa’s official residence, and yes, he’s always “at home” even in summer. Here, you can:

Meet Santa and take a photo with him (yes, his beard is real!).
Cross the Arctic Circle—official certificate included!
Send a postcard from Santa’s Post Office (with a special Arctic Circle postmark!).
Meet his reindeer and maybe even take a sleigh ride!

3. Santa’s Reindeer: More Than Just Rudolph

Santa doesn’t travel by car—he has his reindeer-powered sleigh. But did you know that real reindeer don’t actually fly? (We know, it’s shocking!) Instead, they:

Love the Arctic cold and can survive in extreme winter conditions.
Have special hooves that act like snowshoes (great for running on ice and snow!).
Are super friendly and love meeting visitors! You can even feed and pet them at reindeer farms around Lapland.

4. The Elves: Santa’s Hardest Workers

Santa’s elves are the backbone of Christmas magic. They:

Help sort and respond to millions of letters sent to Santa each year.
Craft and wrap presents in Santa’s workshop.
Are experts in spreading Christmas cheer (even in July!).

Pro Tip: If you visit Elf School in Santa Park, you’ll learn some of their secret skills, including how to sneak around without being seen—a must-have elf ability!

5. Can You Visit Santa in Summer? (Yes!)

Think Santa only works in December? Think again! Rovaniemi’s Santa Claus Village is open all year, meaning you can:

Meet Santa in July (no winter coat needed!).
Go on midnight sun reindeer rides.
Celebrate Christmas whenever you want!

6. Fun Facts About Santa & Lapland

🎄 Santa gets around 500,000 letters a year from children all over the world! 🎄 The Arctic Circle runs through Santa Claus Village, so you can literally step into the Arctic while visiting. 🎄 Lapland is one of the best places on Earth to see the Northern Lights, which Santa probably uses as GPS!

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re 5 or 95, visiting Santa in Lapland is a magical experience. With reindeer, elves, and a real winter wonderland, this is Christmas like you’ve never seen it before. So, put on your warmest mittens, write your wish list, and get ready to meet the legend himself—Santa is waiting!

Get ready to fall in love with the Arctic wonderland that is Lapland!