Santa's grotto is without snow - 23rd December 2024

All over the world, children are excited about the arrival of Father Christmas. A few lucky ones have the opportunity to actually visit Santa's home within the Arctic Circle. There, they'll experience a traditional Christmas with the warm-hearted man himself, and with soft white snow.

However, this year Santa's worried by the lack of snow.

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."

Some of the visitors, such as Wenguel from the United States, can't help feeling a little disappointed.

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."

Others, such as Italian holiday-maker Debora, are concerned by the obvious effect of climate change.

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

Back inside Santa's Grotto, the elves are busy going through the hundreds of thousands of letters which appear annually for their boss.

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

Some writers tell Santa of their concerns for the world, or of their own private problems. However, most of them simply send him their list of desired Christmas presents. Fortunately, the lack of snow shouldn't affect Santa Claus' gift 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."

And what are the lucky visitors' opinions of meeting the man himself? Bobby and his father Robert have travelled from Ireland.

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 people post their wishes this Christmas season, Santa's own private wish for himself and for his reindeer friends is for a delivery of snow.