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Lapland is a unique and gorgeous province of Finland, Sweden
and Norway. It is approximately 195 km north of the
Arctic Circle. Finland in fact is known in
northern Europe as the home of Santa Claus. Children are
taught that Santa Claus lives on a fell (treeless mountain)
called Ear Mountain (Korvatunturi
) because his reindeer do not
have enough food to live on at the North Pole. So much for
American tradition! In Finland reindeer are very common
animals, much like deer and moose in North America. Lapland in
fact is a nature lover’s dream!
The northern lights are a typical sight.
Foxes, swans and wood grouse are
common animals. The spruce tree is common in Lapland. Wild
cloudberry and Arctic bramble are highly valued berries and
often are consumed in hot drinks during Christmas time.
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Kakslauttanen :the Hotel & Igloo Village in
Lapland, even offers tourists the chance to stay in a glass
igloo rather than a hotel! You can relax and see the
northern lights from your own bed. The igloos are like any
hotel room, very warm and with a motored bed. There are also
snow and ice igloos for those who prefer roughing it,
cottages and log cabins. Don’t be fooled into thinking that
a real igloo is cold however. When heated with a heart or a
fire, as is the traditional Aboriginal practice, an igloo is
as hot and stifling as sitting beside a roaring fire in a
tiny living room. |
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| A hole is cut into the ceiling in order to
allow smoke and heat to rise out of the igloo and prevent it
from melting. It also provides a little air circulation. Lapland is home to the Normadic Sami people. These people
are indigenous to northern Europe and their ancestral lands
spans an area the size of Sweden, but located in the Nordic
regions. Once a suppressed culture, Finland, Norway and Sweden
are now trying to encourage Sami culture in the way of financial
contributions to Sami cultural and educational institutions. |
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Lapland Christmas is an incredible experience and a delightful
way to spend your holidays. Each year the Finnish Santa
receives approximately 700,000 letters from countries
around the world. There is even a main office for Santa Claus
so that Santa and his helpers can attempt to answer as many
letters as possible! Over the years millions of
children’s letters have reached Santa’s office and this practice
shows no signs of slowing down. No wonder Finland is called
Santa Claus country.
A Christmas vacation in Lapland itself is a gift not soon
forgotten. If you travel anywhere for Christmas this year,
consider placing Lapland at the top of your list.
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