Letters To Santa
Miles Jupp visits the Arctic Circle Post Office
Writing to Santa is a tradition that connects people across the world with the magic of Christmas.
Each year around half a million letters are sent to an Arctic post office in Lapland for the attention of Santa Claus. Actor and radio presenter, Miles Jupp, was invited to join the team of postal 'elves' sorting mail for Santa and report back to BBC Radio 4.
As an 'elf' intern at Santa Claus' Main Post Office, Miles discovers letters written by children and adults from across the world, and meets people who have travelled for thousands of miles to visit this magical place.
The Journey to Lapland
Miles begins his journey just before 6 am on a dark December morning flying from London to Helsinki in Finland - and the plan is to travel overland from there.
Christmas Train at Kemi, Lapland Image By Jacek Rużyczka. Creative Commons.
Christmas Train at Kemi, Lapland Image By Jacek Rużyczka. Creative Commons.
He boards a train for a seven hour journey to the snowy landscapes of the north. It snakes through the frozen wilderness, skating the edge of the Baltic Sea, arriving late at night at the city of Rovaniemi on the edge of the Arctic Circle.
Capital of Lapland
Lapland is known as a place of mystery and tradition with more reindeer than people. Reindeer have been at the heart of the indigenous Sámi people's culture for centuries and are an icon of Lapland.
Sami family in Lapland, with a sledge, reindeer and a dog. Swedish National Heritage Board.
Sami family in Lapland, with a sledge, reindeer and a dog. Swedish National Heritage Board.
Rovaniemi is the capital city, although more the size of a town, and designed to reflect this local icon. The city's street plan is laid out in the shape of a reindeer's head complete with antlers. The design was the work of renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto who rebuilt Rovaniemi after it was virtually destroyed in World War Two.
In 1950, America’s former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, visited the new city. A small log cabin was put up on the outskirts near the airport for the welcoming ceremony and from here Eleanor sent the first-ever postcard from Rovaniemi with the Arctic Circle stamp. It is said to have been addressed to her friend, the serving President, Harry S. Truman.
This cabin was the very first building in Rovaniemi's Santa Claus Village - a place today where families come to experience the magic of Christmas, with husky sled rides, meeting Santa Claus and viewing the Northern Lights.
Miles Joins the Elves
The day of his internship has arrived and Miles heads to the heart of the village to report for work at the post office. This is part of the Finnish postal service, an everyday working post office, as well as the destination for the hundreds of thousands of letters addressed to Santa at the Arctic Circle. The post office is staffed by a team of ‘elves’ – Santa’s very own postal workers who help him with the mountains of letters arriving in numerous languages.
The first task of the day is to become more elf-like. There is a uniform of thick linen shirt, festive waistcoat and fetching green and red felt hat. Then the letter sorting begins under the watchful eye of Elf Riitta.
Over 30,000 letters arrive daily in peak times from across Europe - countries like Latvia, Romania, Belarus, Switzerland Ireland, but also from far beyond - Korea, China, South America, Australia. The list goes on.
As you, and Santa, might expect many are full of wishes for toys - model kits, dolls and dinosaurs - but also many are full of hope for happiness and a better world. Some letters show people think about Santa's needs as well...
“Daddy says as you are coming all the way from Finland this year, as well as a mince pie and carrot for Rudolph, he will leave out Irish Whiskey and our national drink, Guinness.…”
As she leads the sorting and postal skills training, Elf Riitta tells Miles how some children send carrots for Rudolph- often black by the time they arrive. Others send gifts: a shaving set for Santa, a pair of slippers, a national doll. Many letters are elaborately decorated.
Some children -and adults - tell Santa their worries and innermost feelings...
"This is a sad Christmas for me..there are no apples, no parties even no greetings…I have fallen in love with a boy this summer but he didn’t know. "
“I’m 82 years old, I’m a desperate grandmother and I worry a lot about the safety of my oldest grandson.”
A Thesis in 'Elfish Studies'
Elf Riitta has read tens of thousands of letters over the years she has worked at the post office. She became so fascinated by the range of letters that she completed a university thesis on them.
Some people write to Santa Claus as if he is a god and ask him to help them find a husband, girlfriend or a better life.
Others also ask for help, but not for themselves...
"I would like you to help the other children in countries at war and adults too. I want them to have have school, food, water, clothes and jobs....Big kisses with every love in the world. "
And some offer their own support... One little boy wrote asking if he could be an elf. As well as sending his photo he assured Santa he had special skills; he's good at football, kind and peaceful, can do somersaults and is a good spy.
One of the most unusual letters Elf Riitta has read, was from a man who asked Santa Claus not to give any presents to police! What possible stories lie behind that?!
Many different names for Santa adorn the letters sent by children from across the world...Babbo Natale, Pere Noel, Papai Noel and of course Father Christmas.
Ear Mountain - Santa's Global Listening Post
In Finland Santa Claus is also called Joulupukki and children know that he lives in a secret location on a mountain called Korvatunturi. In English this translates to "Ear Fell". It's said this mountain, shaped like an ear, can hear the thoughts and wishes of children everywhere in the world.
Korvatunturi in winter from southwest, the Finnish side by FCW1918 Wikimedia Commons
Korvatunturi in winter from southwest, the Finnish side by FCW1918 Wikimedia Commons
Snow, Reindeers and Santa
After the post office shift Miles samples life Finnish style in sub zero temperatures...
One activity he won't be doing is ice swimming! This is Elf Riitta's favourite pastime. She plunges into an ice hole in the nearby river Kemijoki - the temperature can be as low as minus 39 degrees!
More inviting is toasting marshmallows.....
and going on a reindeer sleigh ride through the snowy forest....
Reindeers live in herds grazing in forests and on fells. They eat over 300 types of plants found in Finland - but their absolute favourite, especially in the wintertime, is lichen.
They can tolerate temperatures from plus 40 to minus 50 Celsius, so are happy working in both summer and winter. Also they form close bonds with each other and the humans who look after them and drive the sleighs.
Back in the warmth of the post office, Miles has one very important task left to complete. He has a special invitation to meet with Santa in person to deliver letters from his children. First though, he writes his own letter to Santa Claus - hoping he has been good enough for his wishes to come true
Happy Christmas Everyone!
"...And Please can I Have a Unicorn and World Peace?" is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 21st December 2020 at 8pm and repeated on Wednesday 23rd December at 11am.
Programme produced by Rosa Productions. Producer Sara Parker.
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