The hunt for Father Christmas

Oct 20 2007 by Paul Cole, Liverpool Daily Post

A snow-covered ski-lift station _320

SATURDAY

10am: We’re ushered into a small wooden hut at Porocamp, where we’re met by a Lappish shaman, who chants in a ululating tone while banging on a tribal skin drum. He marks our noses with charcoal from the fire.

He talks of forest folk-tales and goblins, and of traditions etched deep in Scandinavian history. But, of our elusive friend, he can offer no clue.

We rush through the snow with a fresh team of huskies led by faithful Mishka, then stop, and succumb to the lure of a snowball fight. Later, in a hunter’s hut, we brew coffee in a blackened kettle over an open fire, the logs smoking, spitting and crackling as they ward off the cold.

1.30pm: The chase is on. We’ve seen Noisy Nod and Tricky Dicky again, so Santa can’t be far away. At Hangasjarvi, we take to skidoos and race across the frozen surface of the lake, headlights blazing in the encroaching gloom.

At last! A confirmed sighting. We’re joined by eager children who’ve heard that Santa lives up on the Ruuhintunturi fells – and Christmas Eve is only a short time away.

We board a snowtrain convoy of sledges pulled by skidoos. Wrapped in reindeer hides, we climb and climb into the mist. Eventually, we spot presents dropped by Speedy Sam in his hurry. It can only be a matter of time.

Then, there it is, a light burning in a forest clearing. As we draw closer, we find it’s a log cabin, and a peek through the windows reveals a workshop filled with wooden and tin toys being manufactured by rosy-cheeked elves.

3pm: The heavy wooden door opens and a voice booms out. Santa tugs at his long beard, hitches up his belt, and reaches out to shake our hands.

“I am so glad you’re here. I want you to tell all the children in Britain that I am very much looking forward to seeing them on Christmas Eve, even if they are all asleep – Merry Christmas! Now, have you been naughty or nice . . . ?”

* PAUL COLE travelled on a Lapland Lullaby break as a guest of Canterbury Travel, who each year offer special breaks in search of Santa. The four-day visit, based in the Finnish ski resort of Salla, departs regularly each December from Manchester and Gatwick.

Priced this year from £985 a head, based on four sharing a cabin at Hotelli Revontuli. That includes flights, accommodation, meals, snowsuit and boot hire, guides, a wide range of Arctic activities and souvenir DVD and CD. Visit www.laplandexperience.com or call 01923 452222 for a free brochure.