大象传媒

In the far north of Finland, 6km south of the Artic Circle, the town of Rovaniemi is the 鈥渙fficial home" of Santa Claus - the location where any letter addressed to Santa (over 500,000 every year) will arrive.

St Nicholas may have roots in 3rd Century Turkey - but this one-time logging town is now the centre of a vast Santa industry. In 2019, more than half a million people came to Rovaniemi鈥檚 Santa Village 鈥� including 60,000 from China. Dignitaries such as Chinese President Xi Jinping have also made a pilgrimage to the home of the world鈥檚 most identifiable, pan-cultural, pan-faith icon.

This year, though, things are different. Santa鈥檚 village lies eerily quiet due to Covid-19. All focus 鈥� and hope 鈥� lies on his official Post Office, and the letters that continue to stream through the door from children 鈥� and adults 鈥� across the world. Producer Steven Rajam tells the story of the global Santa tourism boom, the myths, fantasies and traditions that Santa represents across different cultures.

Contributors include writer on Christmas and biographer of Santa Claus, Gerry Bowler; historian Martin Johnes; expert on China and religion, Fenggang Yang; travel agency chief Chao Tang; and supervisor at Santa鈥檚 official post office, Katja Tervonen, who details how the hundreds of letters received every year give a unique insight into the thoughts and emotions of children around the world.

(Photo: Driver POV of sleigh ride in thick snow and bright sunshine in Rovaniemi. Credit: Lars Ley)