When it comes to leisure, there's no business like snow business in the Finnish winter wonderland.
The country's most senior poster boy is none other than Santa Claus, who lives in a specially created pine and stone village just north of Rovaniemi, up on the Arctic Circle. In addition to the bearded one himself, there's a permanent exhibition devoted to Christmas traditions and celebrations in Finland and around the world, not to mention the Elves' Toy Factory, which as we know is devoted to maximum productivity, totally unhampered by EU quotas or labour disputes or regulations. And, as might be imagined, the post office does a brisk trade in souvenir cards, as well as receiving millions of requests and reminders from children all over the globe.
For visitors who want the full Donner and Blitzen experience, a reindeer safari is a must. Try as you might, it's almost impossible to board a sleigh, nestle under a thick fur blanket, and dash through dense snowy forests without humming Jingle Bells at least part of the way.
Alternatively, drop by a reindeer farm to see how the animals are reared, try your hand at driving a sleigh, and then recuperate in a Lappish tent while enjoying sausages and coffee. While Finnish is the national language, most people working in the tourist industry speak English fluently.
Almost as well known as Santa and his reindeer, the Northern Lights, - or Aurora Borealis, are one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on earth. If the weather conditions are good and there is not too much cloud cover, the lights can be observed from almost any part of Lapland. Joining a tour, led by an expert who can relate myths as well as scientific facts, is a good way to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For a more up-close-and-personal adventure with Mother Nature, board the Sampo, one of the world's very few tourist ice-breaking ships. Cruising every evening between December and April, the 3,540-tonne ship takes passengers on a thrilling four-hour voyage across the Arctic whiteness. Daredevils can try taking a swim (in a thermal suit), while 'transfers' to and from the Sampo are made aboard snowmobiles. There is also a first-class restaurant on board, the bar's speciality cocktail is naturally called 'Sampo on the Rocks'. Given that mid-winter temperatures can plummet to -40 degrees Celsius, the crew provides a wealth of advice on dressing up warmly.
There's more in the way of icy escapades on Finland's lakes. There are thousands spread across the country, and the expression 'get your skates on' meets its full measure in wintertime, when what seems like half the population takes to the ice. It's also something of a spectator sport, as the Ice Marathon, held annually on Lake Kallavesi at Kuopio draws thousands of enthusiasts, young and old. The skating season usually runs from October to April, reaching a peak between January and March.