Rovaniemi: What is it like to live in Santa Claus Village?

She loves Christmas, she has a big weakness for Santa Claus, she likes winter, the cold and the snow, and she knew from a very young age that the ideal place to work when she grows up is Santa’s Village, in her frozen Rovaniemi of Finland. There, where all her dreams, like reindeer walks, meetings with Santa Claus and elves, Christmas parties and viewing the magical Northern Lights could come true.

This hidden childhood outcast, Eleni Tsami from Athens, managed to make it happen. Recently he has been living and working in Agios Vassilis Village, in the restaurant area.

“It’s like playing in a Christmas movie”

Speaking to APE-MPE, he confided what it’s like to live there: like “all the childish and hopeful thoughts I once had, suddenly become reality. You see Santa Claus in front of you, hug him, talk to him and become a child again.”

“Santa’s village is the joy of children, but to be honest the joy of adults is even greater. You see it in their faces, in their mood. At some point, the children may get tired and want to go back to their room, but the adults never do,” notes Eleni Tsami.

“Being able to enter Santa’s house and peek into the workshop that makes the toys, talk and play with the exotics, is something unique, something that gives you incredible joy. But the greatest joy comes when you finally see Santa Claus himself. Everything you imagined as a little kid is coming to life. You see him in front of you, exuberant, smiling with his warm embrace and you leave his house happier,” she says enthusiastically.

As she explains, “the whole village is a place of joy, everywhere you see people laughing, playing snowball fights, making snowmen in the square. Behind Santa’s house, there is his farm with reindeer, with which you can even go for a walk! When you are in this place despite all the cold, your heart warms and your soul rejoices. I don’t know how else to describe the feeling it gives you, it’s like being in a Christmas movie.”

Referring to the big decision to leave Greece and work abroad and even in such a distant place, 33-year-old Eleni points out that, “I decided to come to Finland when I returned from my first summer season abroad, which was in Norway. I wanted to stay in Greece of course, but the conditions weren’t ideal and I knew from the beginning that I wanted to work in the Santa Claus village here in Finland and that’s how it happened. For me, who is a nature lover, as I also like winter, life here in Lapland is ideal, it has cold, snow, forests and peace. There is no such stress of the city, I move around on the road and in addition to feeling absolutely safe, I enjoy nature to the fullest! Here I work in two restaurants, one of which is built entirely of snow and ice and decorated with ice sculptures. Everything is a fairy tale. The truth is that I don’t face any difficulties here, neither professionally nor personally, and I feel very lucky.”

“I am the personification of the Christmas spirit, everyone I know knows that. I love them, I look forward to them every year. Everything is more beautiful then, we all become a little more sensitive, a little kinder, a little more patient and a little more optimistic about the future. And of course, the arrival of Santa Claus is another little stone that makes it the most beautiful period bringing gifts. What matters to me is not the gift, but the joy of seeing others open their presents! I’m not completely alone here, it’s my brother and some friends who have decided to follow us this year in the season and I’m very happy about that, despite all that I would of course like to be at home, with all my loved ones and let’s spend the holidays together. Or even better if they were here,” he emphasizes enthusiastically.

Eleni Tsami is an actress and clarifies that, although she is very happy to work in the Village of Agios Vassilis, she would very much like to work in the theater. “In Greece it is quite difficult, not so much because I won’t find somewhere to play, but because it is not easy to make a living from this profession alone. But I am optimistic! For now I’m enjoying my stay and work in Rovaniemi, a breath of the Arctic Circle and experiencing the nature and spirit of Christmas in the best possible way”, and who knows, maybe Santa will bring Helen the present this year that he desires, a role that he dreams of.