We took a 12-hour overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi--the capital of Lapland (Finland) and the official hometown of Santa Claus!
Our cozy sleeping compartments on our "Polar Express".
To my surprise, Rovaniemi looked a lot like northern Ontario!
From Rovaniemi, we took an 8-km bus ride to the Santa Claus Village where we crossed the Arctic Circle!
"The Arctic Circle is the line north of which the sun never sets at least one day in summer and never rises for at least one day in winter." (Source: Santa Claus Village sign)
Manger scene
At the Santa Claus Main Post Office, one of the postal elves stamped our postcards with the special Arctic Circle postmark. The Post Office can also hold your cards and parcels and mail them just before Christmas.
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| Photo courtesy of my friend |
Unfortunately, photography was prohibited inside Santa's Office so we didn't capture any images of our visit with Santa.
To see photos of the Santa Claus Village in winter, click here. You can also view the SantaClausLive Inside Cam between 9 am to 7 pm Finland time (1 am to 11 am EST).
During our 2-day stay at Rovaniemi, we tried out some Lappish cuisine. Reindeer
meat is a staple food in Lapland. You can learn more about Lappish food culture here.
At our hotel, we dined on sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes and lingonberries (top).
At the cafe by the train station, we had reindeer pizza (bottom).
Sorry, Dasher, Dancer and Prancer!
Sorry, Dasher, Dancer and Prancer!
At the time of my trip, my teaware obsession collection had not yet started, so I didn't look for tea-themed ornaments or Santa teawares at the Santa Claus Village. Since 2010, I've amassed a modest collection of Santa teapots.
Earlier this month, I acquired this miniature Santa teapot by Fitz and Floyd...
...and "Santa's Flight" by Fitz and Floyd.
I loved the detailing on the teapot such as the handle listing the names of the good boys and girls!
This teapot was gifted to me last Christmas by a friend.
The first Santa teapot in my collection was a thrift store find a few years ago.
I hope Santa is good to you this Christmas!
I'm joining the following parties this week:
Well, THIS was an interesting post! I hope you enjoyed your stay in Santa's homeland. We Finns (would) love to visit Canada, because it's a little bit like Finland, only everything there is bigger and more handsome. :)
ReplyDeleteYour Santa teapots are lovely. Enjoy the new week!
Margie: What a wonderful adventure you got to go on and I am sure that has to be the "real" place! You have a delightful collection of teapots to which only seems appropriate. I am so glad you shared your trip with us and your collection! Have a Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWe took our three kids to Rovaneimi in Dec 1998, we tease our daughter about the really expensive holiday to Lapland when she refused to go and see Father Christmas!!!! Lovely to go back with you today, doesn't look like it's changed much!
ReplyDeleteWren x
Well, Margie, you really do amaze me! You visit the neatest places! I have eaten lingonberries before but never reindeer, and I never will! What a cute collection of teapots you have.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm not positive, but I think my son toured Scandinavia in June or July 2010 as well. For a different reason however. He was a drummer for a band who toured over there. A once in a lifetime experience for him. He really enjoyed touring all the countries including Holland. He will never get to do that again.
Thank you for sharing another 'outing' with us. You do get around, girl!
Merry Christmas,
Sandi
What an amazing experience Margie, and I'm happy for you to have a couple of awesome F and F tea things. I saw a couple of Santa teapots and mugs at the antique barn last week.
ReplyDeleteIt's shocking to us to think people would eat reindeer but likely no different than us eating venison or moose in Canada.
Hi Margie, How fun to actually visit the hometown of Santa! I bet that was neat. I'm glad they remembered Jesus.
ReplyDeleteYour Santa collection is so cute! That's kind of weird that they serve reindeer there huh?
Thanks so much for your recent visit to my dining room blog.
Gina
You have the best travel experiences, Margie! What a fun and unique you and your friend took.
ReplyDeleteYour collection of Santa teapots is wonderful. I'm not sure which is my favorite, as I love them all!
Love your cute Santa teapot collection... I didnt know Santa had a hometown, how fun. Trip sounded exciting... Happy new week with love Janice thank you for your dear visit
ReplyDeleteMost interesting and what a wonderful adventure. You have a wonderful little Santa collection. You must have fun looking for them at the thrift stores. Coming to you from Mosaic Monday.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip! Thank you for sharing your traveling bug with us! The Fitz and Floyd mini is so cute! Great Santas.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful adventure - and you Santa collection is just too cute.
ReplyDeleteI adore your Santa collection. I have no C'mas collection of any kind perse; except the C'mas tree and heirloom ornaments and memories from family and friend. Fabulous trip too my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the sweet comment for our new bundle of joy.
Merry Christmas!
FABBY
Wow, actually going to the artic circle! Did you go just to see where Saint Nicolas was from? : )
ReplyDeleteYour santa tea pot collection looks great. It is so fun hunting around for them and watching your collection grow.
Hi Margie! That sounds like such a fun trip! You had me cracking up at the sorry Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer :). Very cool Santa teapot collection! Santa's Flight especially is really cool
ReplyDeleteOh, dear, not sure I could eat Rudolph! haha I didn't know there was a Santa Claus village. How fun to visit. And those trains with the sleeping quarters have always seemed so romantic to me.
ReplyDeleteOh what fun, Margie! That must have been quite an experience!...Christine
ReplyDeleteWhat a great, fun adventure! Love your teapots. Merry Merry!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Santa was from there. It looks very nice, not even snowy!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Santa was from there. It looks very nice, not even snowy!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go backpacking across a different country sometime! I couldn't have told you what Santa Claus' home town was but I did know it was somewhere up there. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteHi Margie,
ReplyDeleteI was sure that I made a comment and then came back and couldn't see it. I do love your corner shelf all decorated up for Christmas. I also have a corner shelf and put my Christmas pretties on it. Such fun! Happy Tea Day! Karen
Margie,
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting!! I love your Santa collection of the corner shelf!! The tea pots are precious!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Merry Christmas!!
Hugs,
Deb
CUTE, Margie! Golly you sure are an interesting lady - I mean. never ever did I meet someone who has been north of the Artic Cirlce - too cool! : - )
ReplyDeleteI like your growing collection of Santa and Christmas teatime treasures. I don't do the whimsical thing, but will surely keep my peepers open for you! : - )
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, sweet lady! ♥♥♥
CUTE, Margie! Golly you sure are an interesting lady - I mean. never ever did I meet someone who has been north of the Artic Cirlce - too cool! : - )
ReplyDeleteI like your growing collection of Santa and Christmas teatime treasures. I don't do the whimsical thing, but will surely keep my peepers open for you! : - )
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, sweet lady! ♥♥♥
What fun you must have had on your trip. Wow. And what a splendid collection of you have of Santa's.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a beautiful weekend...
Brenda
What a fun thing to do! That's is so cute that there is no photography in Santa's HQ. That train compartment is very similar to the one we took from Venice to Paris. Ours slept three! Maybe that one does too with one between. I ended up closing the middle and sleeping two on the bottom, and one on the top. Love your teapots. Merry Christmas. xoxo Su
ReplyDelete