The village of Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, known as the ‘official’ hometown of Santa Claus, is facing a lack of snow in the lead up to Christmas due to global warming. Normally covered in white snow by late November, the village has instead been experiencing rain and temperatures around 2C, as greenhouse gas emissions warm the planet. Despite the lack of snow, visitors are still flocking to the Santa Claus Village to experience the magical Christmas atmosphere.
Visitors to the village can still meet Santa Claus, go snowmobiling, and take reindeer sleigh-rides, despite the gloomy skies and lack of snow. The Santa’s Post Office is bustling with activity, with over half a million letters to Santa arriving every year. Postal elves like Heidi Mustonen sort through piles of letters, which are mostly wish lists from children and adults. Many letters also contain personal concerns, fears, wishes, and joys, with a common theme of wishing for peace this year.
The warm and happy atmosphere in Santa’s village is contrasted by the lack of snowfall, with Heidi expressing a wish for snow to brighten up the landscape. Despite their best efforts, the postal elves can’t control the weather and are unable to make snow everywhere in the village. Visitors from around the world continue to visit the village, experiencing a Christmas-like atmosphere but noting the absence of the traditional snowy scenery.
While the lack of snow in Rovaniemi is evidence of the real effects of climate change, visitors are still able to enjoy the festive activities and meet Santa Claus in the Christmas village. The impact of global warming is evident in the Arctic village, affecting not only the landscape but also the way of life for the residents and the reindeer. As temperatures rise and snowfall decreases, the village must adapt to these changes while still providing a magical Christmas experience for visitors from all over the world.
