Last Updated on September 16, 2022
When Santa Claus comes to Finland, what does he ride? You may be surprised to learn that the big guy rides a straw goat named Ukko! This fact is often questioned by children and adults alike. However, a fun fact about Santa Claus and reindeer is a simple fact that’s hard to dispute. You can find more fun facts about Santa Claus and reindeer in FunTrivia’s Question & Answer section. Editors continually review all submissions and re-edit them to ensure accuracy.
Reindeer
A Christmas legend has it that Santa rides reindeer when he visits the country. This legend was made popular in the early 1920s when Ikola was a young girl, visiting her grandparents in the parish of Loimaa. She heard the story of Santa riding reindeer from her grandparents in Satakunta, Hame, and the Vyborg region of the Tornio River valley. The Finnish Santa Claus was known as Weihnachtsmann before he made his first appearance in this Christmas story by Sakari Topelius.
The legend of Santa riding reindeer is based on the fact that Santa’s reindeer live in herds and roam the great wilderness. They are used to harsh climates and must grow large and strong to survive. To meet the demands of his journey, Santa and his elves work with Finnish and Sami reindeer herders to breed reindeer. Typically, male reindeer are larger than females, weighing up to 180 kilograms. Santa looks for strong, lanky reindeer with big feet and a big nose.
The reindeer’s winter fur is made of oleic acid, a substance that prevents their legs from freezing. This unique blood flow helps reindeer withstand the cold and arctic climate. Their thick, dense fur also shields them from the cold and the elements. These two factors have made reindeer an icon of Christmas for many children. So, if you’re visiting Finland this holiday season, don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.
If you’re planning a trip to visit the home of Santa Claus, be sure to visit Rovaniemi, the official hub of the North Pole. It’s the administrative capital of Finland’s Lapland. The place is dominated by reindeer. As such, driving through Finnish Lapland in November-January can be a bit risky. And it’s better to stay on the paved roads during this time, since snow can accumulate in the icy landscape.
If you want to get closer to Santa Claus and his reindeer, you can go on a reindeer sleigh ride in Lapland. The reindeer sleigh ride is one of the most popular activities during the Christmas season. Whether you’re looking for a family outing or an adventure in the snow, reindeer rides are sure to thrill the kids. And you can also ride reindeer when you visit Finland!
Santa visits Finland and rides reindeer in order to deliver presents to children. He spends the winter months in Rovaniemi, which is located along the Arctic Circle. Santa can’t help but be enchanted by the magical atmosphere of the country during the holiday season. The reindeer are his faithful companions on the sleigh. You can find endless Christmassy gifts and decorations in this region.
Joulupukki – the Finnish Santa Claus tradition
While we know Santa Claus from the United States, Finland has its own version of the legend. The Joulupukki is a goat-like evil spirit who once demanded gifts from children on St. Knut’s Day. This goat-like spirit was also associated with fertility and crops. Nowadays, men in fur jackets and birch bark masks go door to door giving presents and greeting children.
The Finnish Santa Claus tradition began in the 1800s, when St Nicholas, or Joulupukki, became known throughout the country. Instead of demanding gifts from children, Joulupukki would visit homes and ask, “Are there any well-behaved children here?” Then he’d return to his ‘Ear fell’. Now, joulupukki is a much less intimidating figure than his English counterpart.
While the Swedish and Norwegian traditions of the sleigh and reindeer are also centuries old, the Finnish version is especially charming. The red-and-white colouring is symbolic of the Christmas season. Its origins are not entirely clear, but one theory suggests that the tradition originated among the Sami people of Lapland. According to legend, a poisonous mushroom was fed to reindeer, which filtered the poison from the animal’s digestive tract and urine. The urine was then collected and used by shamans as a hallucinogenic drug.
Joulupukki – the Finnish version of Santa Claus combines nuuttipukki and modern Santa Claus traditions. The Joulupukki visits many Finnish homes on Christmas Eve and hands out presents to children. Children may even sing Christmas carols to him. While the American Santa Claus uses a chimney, the Finnish Santa Claus has reindeer that travel on land. The Finnish version is still popular in many parts of the world, where it is believed that Santa Claus lives in Lapland.
Finland is home to the Joulupukki, a man dressed in red robes. His assistants, or tonttu, are dwarf-like people who ride goats. The Joulupukki is known to live in Korvatunturi, a village in Lapland. His wife, Joulumuori, is also known as Joulupukki’s wife. There is little known about the woman who helps him, but tradition says they are different and have different roles.
The Finnish Santa Claus tradition begins on Christmas Eve. On this night, children wait patiently for the arrival of the joulupukki. The joulupukki men often arrive late afternoon on Christmas Eve, to visit the youngest children. The children wait patiently for him to arrive and greet him. The young ones are then left to sing songs. While Santa is there to receive gifts, he departs after 15 minutes. It is tradition for young children to open their gifts on Christmas Eve.
The Finnish Santa Claus is much like the American Santa Claus. Most Finnish children believe that Santa Claus is real and visits their homes. The joulupukki visits homes, and asks children if they have been good. In the meantime, they sing Christmas carols for him. They exchange presents with their parents and siblings, and most of them continue believing in Santa Claus until the age of school.
Visiting santa
If you are thinking of visiting Santa in Finland this year, consider this. The famous elf will visit your town with his sleigh and reindeer, and you can enjoy the experience in person, minus the elves! The Finnish holiday tradition is the same as in other Nordic countries, and Santa’s journey starts on Christmas Eve. What’s more, you can visit the town’s ice restaurant for a delicious dinner.
When visiting Rovaniemi, make sure you check out the House of Snowmobiles, where you can see a permanent exhibit of the famous Lapland snowmobiles. You can also visit Snowman World, a hotel made entirely of ice and snow. You can also visit Santa’s post office to get an Arctic Circle postmark, as he crosses the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi.
If you’ve ever wondered where Santa lives, you’ve probably wondered how he gets from place to place. Santa, who goes by the name Joulupukki, starts his journey from Korvatunturi, a town in Finland’s Lapland region. He rides a non-flying sleigh pulled by his reindeer, and leaves gifts for children under their Christmas trees. However, be sure to stay out of trouble – he might leave you a bag of coal if you’ve been unnecessary this year!
Visiting Santa in Finland is a great way to make memories of the holidays. The sleigh that Santa rides on is an iconic image in Finland, and a visit to his sleigh will make you a true believer! If you’re planning a visit to Finland, make sure to check out the elves’ sleigh and the reindeers that pull it! If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the Santa in action, and you’ll be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season in the same time!
Visiting Santa in Finland isn’t just for kids, but for adults as well! You’ll be able to see him at the post office in Napapiiri at any time of the year. In fact, there’s even a post office there where you can write letters to Santa. There are tons of souvenir shops to choose from as well, including Santa’s own stamp!
To make the journey possible, Santa needs his reindeer to grow big. This Arctic climate requires reindeer to be big and strong. In Finland, the Santa Clause works with Sami and Finnish reindeer herders to ensure that they have the right genetics to be able to pull the sleigh. Santa usually prefers male reindeer, as they tend to weigh more than their female counterparts. He also wants reindeers with long bodies and a big nose.
In Rovaniemi, Santa Claus lives in his home town. This is the Official Hometown of Santa Claus in Lapland. You can visit him in his village, and even cross the Arctic Circle yourself! The price for a standard room in Santa’s village is 149 euros for two adults and two children. However, you’re not allowed to take photos or videos of him! And if you’re in the mood for a real photo with Santa, you’ll want to stop by Santa’s workshop!
About The Author
Wendy Lee is a pop culture ninja who knows all the latest trends and gossip. She's also an animal lover, and will be friends with any creature that crosses her path. Wendy is an expert writer and can tackle any subject with ease. But most of all, she loves to travel - and she's not afraid to evangelize about it to anyone who'll listen! Wendy enjoys all kinds of Asian food and cultures, and she considers herself a bit of a ninja when it comes to eating spicy foods.