Santa wishes for snow - 23rd December 2024

As it's the Christmas season, children all around the world are preparing for Santa. A few of them can even visit his home in the Arctic Circle. That's where they'll see both Father Christmas and thick white snow.

But there's no snow this winter, and Santa's unhappy about it.

Santa Claus: "We can see that the climate change is true. And it's affecting the reindeer. It's affecting the life here in the Arctic. Actually, talking this morning with my elves. Last year, the same day, we had minus 12 and we had this much of snow. So it's a, it's a different year."

Of course, some of the visitors are disappointed, like Wenguel, who's visiting from the US.

Wenguel: "I figured it would be much more snowy. I mean, it still feels like Christmas just 'cos it's everywhere, but I figured it would be a little bit more, a little bit more Santa-like, if that makes sense. But it's nice to see the kids. They're super excited, so that's kind of pretty cool to see as well."

Some visitors, such as Debora from Italy, worry about climate change.

Debora: "Anxious about the future. And uh sad, a little bit sad, because it's our fault."

In Santa's Grotto, his elf helpers are working through the thousands of letters to Santa which arrive every year.

Elf Heidi: "This letter is from Malaysia and it's one of the 500,000 letters that Santa received last year."

While some children tell Santa about their personal worries, others write about world problems. And of course, many send him their Christmas present list. Having no snow isn't going to stop Santa's delivery!

Santa Claus: "Of course, my my reindeer, they can fly, fly, so that's no problem. But it's so much nicer when everything is covered with the snow and it really gives you the Christmas feeling."

So, what do the visitors think about meeting Santa? Bobby, from Ireland, is visiting Lapland with his father.

Robert: "What was he like?"

Bobby: "He was great, like brilliant."

Robert: "Did he look like the same as he looked last year when you met him?"

Bobby: "No, he looked a little bit different."

Robert: "Yeah."

As always, this year children are hoping Father Christmas will make them happy. Meanwhile, Santa's just wishing for some snow this Christmas, for him and his reindeer.