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

Youngsters all over the globe are excitedly anticipating the coming of Santa Claus. A lucky few even get to see his home firsthand for the full traditional Christmas experience in the Arctic Circle, with dense white snow and the genuine jolly Santa himself.

Yet this year, Father Christmas remains a little distracted as there's barely a single snowflake.

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."

The absence of snow is a disappointment to those like Wenguel, who's made the trip 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."

For some, like Debora from Italy, the undeniable impact of climate change is disturbing.

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

In the bustle of the Grotto, the elves are occupied sorting out the hundreds of thousands of letters that turn up each year for Santa.

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

Whilst some detail their anxieties about the state of the world or inform him of their personal worries, the majority address Santa with their Christmas present list. The delivery of these much-anticipated presents will go ahead this year as normal, with or without snow.

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 do visitors to Lapland make of their encounter with the famous figure? Bobby's made the journey from Ireland, along with his father Robert.

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."

While young children expectantly dispatch their gift-list to Santa, here's hoping that Father Christmas gets his own wish too, and that he receives a sprinkling of snow for himself and his reindeer.

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