With Christmas just a month away, Santa Claus is preparing for the busiest time of year, but a pressing concern is weighing on his jolly heart: the increasingly warm Arctic climate. Rovaniemi, in Finnish Lapland, marketed since the 1980s as Santa’s official hometown, is usually a picture-postcard winter wonderland by now. However, a recent visit revealed a drastically different scene: rain falling from a grey sky, temperatures well above freezing, hovering around +2°C.
“My reindeer can fly, so that’s not a problem,” chuckled Santa, his red suit and long white beard unmistakable, taking a well-deserved rest after a day of greeting eager children and adults. However, he added with a more serious tone, “But we can see that climate change is real. And it’s affecting the reindeer. It’s affecting life here in the Arctic.” (Note: Santa’s real name was not disclosed at his employer’s request). Reindeer herders report that milder, unpredictable winters make it difficult for the animals to find their primary food source, lichen. The snow and ice melt and refreeze, creating layers of packed ice that bury the lichen, leaving the reindeer struggling to survive.
The Arctic is warming at an alarming rate – nearly four times faster than other parts of the world, according to 2022 research published in Nature by Finnish scientists. This accelerated warming, driven by human-caused emissions from burning fossil fuels, is exacerbating weather disasters worldwide, leading to more frequent and intense floods and droughts. In Finnish Lapland, following an unusually warm summer, a new November temperature record was set a few weeks ago in Utsjoki, reaching 11.1°C – surpassing the previous record of 11.0°C set in 1975.
This warming trend poses a significant threat to Rovaniemi’s thriving tourism industry. Tourists flock to the town to experience the enchanting snowy landscapes and the unique Arctic chill. Many also hope to witness the breathtaking Northern Lights that paint the dark skies with vibrant colors. Last year alone, the town saw a record-breaking one million overnight stays.
Visitors can meet Santa at various locations, including the magical Santa Park underground theme park and the ever-popular Santa Claus Village. “It’s super nice. It’s like in the Christmas movies, super magical,” shared Maria Batista Torres from Tenerife, Spain, visiting the village with her children. While the village, adorned with glittering fairy lights, maintains its festive charm, some visitors, like Wenguel from the United States, expressed surprise at the lack of snow: “I figured it would be much more snowy…it still feels like Christmas, but I figured it would be a little bit more Santa-like.” Activities such as snowmobiling and reindeer sleigh rides remain available, though a picture with Santa comes with a minimum cost of 40 euros ($42).
Despite the gloomy skies and unseasonably warm weather, the Santa Claus Post Office buzzes with activity. Red-hooded elves diligently stamp cards and sort through mountains of letters in the pre-Christmas rush. “In December, we can receive about 30,000 letters each day,” revealed Heidi Mustonen, a postal elf with 20 years of experience. Over half a million letters reach Santa annually, each one carefully opened and read. While many contain wish lists, many also share personal concerns, fears, hopes and joys, often accompanied by drawings and small gifts. “This year, many people have wished for peace,” Heidi observed, noting that letters from Asian countries frequently came from young adults seeking strength for their studies, while those from Europe were mostly from children. Despite the festive atmosphere, Heidi, like many others in Rovaniemi, longs for a snowy Christmas: “We would make snow everywhere if we could. But we are just postal elves.” The impact of climate change on this beloved Christmas tradition underscores the urgent need for global action to mitigate its effects and protect the Arctic’s fragile ecosystem.
