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In Search of Santa
Wanting to give my son a magical memory he would remember forever,
I booked a day trip to Lapland to see the real Father Christmas in his natural habitat.
I have to confess I was not relishing the prospect of a three and a half hour flight
with an excited five year old but the time actually (forgive the pun) flew past. The
crew entered into the spirit of Yuletide and, dressed as "Santa’s little helpers",
dispensed food, drinks and colouring pencils. To the sound of "Jingle Bells", "Frosty
the Snowman" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", we dropped out of the clouds and
into a winter wonderland.
Visiting Santa's log cabin
Despite a temperature of —3 degrees centigrade, we were informed that it was a warm day,
and we certainly felt warm by the time we had donned large padded overalls, weighted boots
and balaclavas. Outside, waiting for us, were sleighs pulled by drivers riding skidoos
(snowmobiles). After seating us and then wrapping us in blankets, we were off, swishing
through forests and across frozen lakes. The setting was so still, so tranquil and with such
a magical atmosphere of expectation the ride was the highlight of the trip for me.
All too soon, we had arrived at Santa's log cabin in the woods and his elves pointed out the
candlelit pathway to his door. At this point I was rather worried that my child might turn
and make a run for it, having previously been frightened of meeting Santa when he was younger.
However, he seemed completely unfazed now and handed over his Christmas list to a delightful
Santa who chatted with him and gave him a large gift-wrapped box. I, meanwhile, was happily
taking photographs to remind my spoilt offspring of the day when he met the real Santa Claus.
Back in our skidoo-driven sleigh, we were taken to the village where we explored an ice castle
and sat down on ice stools at a table made of solid ice to drink, fortunately, hot chocolate.
Off we went to meet the reindeer, where my adventurous five year old leapt out of the sleigh to
pat the reindeer's behind. This was much to the alarm of the guide who gently guided him round
to the front of the animal.
Fun in learning
to use the skidoo
Tobogganing and skidoo riding followed. For young children, the skidoo
tied with a long lead so that they can't make off for the open snowy wastes but for the
adults there is a winding course they can drive around, and I can vouch that it is not as
easy as it looks, although we were not going fast enough for my adventurous sprog.
Our search for the loo sent us into a warm welcoming hotel where we sat down to a three course
meal. Needless to say, my child was unable to eat all of it, being too impatient to return to
the snowy outdoors.
In all, we were there for about five hours, which was just long enough to enjoy all the activities
without starting to feel that we were just hanging around. My only disappointment was that after
five hours in the snow with a hyperactive five year old, I could not console myself with a bit of
retail therapy. In keeping with the non-commercialism of the place, there is really very little
to buy unless you are into reindeer antlers and skins. I guess the positive side of that is that
you generally do not spend any additional money.
Would I do this trip again? I have to say no, my little cherub was not as awed and starry-eyed as
I had hoped he would be. I think that has more to do with the sophisticated nature of children these
days such that a plane ride to see Father Christmas, even if it is to the arctic circle, is taken in
its stride. The snow and activities were, however, a huge hit and an outward-bound type course is
obviously the more sensible choice of entertainment in future for my little rambo. But I would love
to return to Lapland with my husband on another kind of vacation to soak up the sheer magic and romance
of this place.
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