Virgin Australia Voyeur — December 2017

DECEMBER 20016 VIRGIN AUSTRALIA 9999

Y

OU AREN’T LIKELYto find many places

colder than Finland in December — or

one that celebrates Claus culture with as

much fervour. You’ll encounter the jolly

old fellow undertaking his Christmas duties at

Rovaniemi, the capital of northern Finland’s

Lapland — considered the ‘oicial’ home of the big

guy — located right on the Arctic Circle.

At SantaPark, he enthusiastically greets visitors

in an impressive range of languages. Visitors can

study to be a ‘helper’ at the Elf School or decorate

cookies at Mrs Gingerbread’s Bakery. In Santa Claus

Village, you can shop for decorations, visit Santa

Claus’ Main Post Oice and see Christmas House,

an exhibition space that showcases Christmas

history and traditions around the globe.

Beyond the kitsch, there’s no better place in the

world for a sleigh ride, whether pulled by reindeer

(sans red noses) or huskies. After basic instruction

on how to handle the dogs, you’ll glide through

a winter wonderland of ice-jewelled pine trees.

While in Rovaniemi, take the opportunity to

visit Arktikum, one of the nation’s top museums,

for an introduction to native Sámi culture and

the Arctic environment. Another good reason to

visit this city of 60,000 is the chance to see the

Northern Lights, most comfortably viewed from

the warmth of your bed in the glass-roofed igloos

of Snowman World Glass Resort. The resort’s Ice

Restaurant features snow sculptures and glittering

chandeliers, and — sorry, Rudolph — you can tuck

into reindeer tenderloin with cranberry sauce.

Rovaniemi, Finland

ABOVE Santa Claus
with one of his reindeer
in Finland. OPPOSITE
PAGE, CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP LEFT
New Yorkers select a
Christmas tree; locals
carry handmade ifelen
in Küssnacht am Rigi;
the famous ice rink and
tree at the Rockefeller
Center. OPENER,
FROM LEFT A herd
of reindeer is rounded
up in Swedish Lapland;
a Christmas market
stall in Zürich.