Christmas in Finland, Where Santa Lives
When contemplating travel during the month of December we usually think of the Christmas Markets of Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic. One of my favorite Christmas shops is Kathe Wohlfahrt’s year round shop in Rothenburg, Germany. But Christmas is actually celebrated throughout the world, including countries like Japan which are not traditionally thought of as Christmas destinations. Many believe that Finland, which is an overwhelmingly Christian nation, is one of the most ‘Christmassy’ countries in the world. After all, they say, Santa Claus himself lives in Lapland, a region in northern Finland, located near the North Pole. The fact that there are as many reindeer in Lapland as there are people only adds to the mystique. Whether or not you believe that Santa originated in Finland, the Finns certainly do and there is much evidence for it as one travels throughout this beautiful country. I hope you enjoy these photos from my recent trip to Finland that make one think of Christmas.
