The Daily Express
8 December 2007
In search of Santa, home and away
But which Lapland would she prefer? The artificial one, one hour's drive south of London costing £90 for a family of four – or the other, involving a 3½-hour flight, a bill for around £1,400 and a much bigger carbon footprint?
We emerge into a forest clearing dotted with log cabins and surrounded by pine trees dusted with artificial snow. There's a huge Christmas tree with fairy lights and people in Lappish costumes; it all looks rather lovely. Suddenly there is much screaming and excitement.
It's “snowing”. The kids run around the village catching the foamy bubbles, until an eight-foot Rudolph turns up in a big furry costume. All the kids want to hug him.
It's getting dark and the forest setting does start to look more magical – particularly now you can't see that the fake snow only fringes the clearing. Santa's cosy log cabin, complete with wood-burning stove. He's the nicest looking Father Christmas I've ever seen. After a chat with Eleanor about her likes (cars, disco dancing) he doles out some wooden toys in jute bags – not a bit of horrible plastic in sight.
Then I am taken by surprise. He hands me the classic book, The Night Before Christmas and asks me to promise him I'll read it to the girls every Christmas Eve. Tears well up in my eyes as I agree.
The Finnish experience is expensive and a one-day trip is gruelling for younger children. Lapland UK is infinitely better than taking youngsters to a traditional Santa's grotto and the forest setting is lovely.
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