Department store Santas are a staple during the holiday season. Where did this tradition start, though? Who was the first department store Santa?
Tag: Christmas
10 Spectacular Winter Wonderlands Around the World
It doesn’t matter where you are in the world or how you celebrate. A stunning winter scene can always brighten up the darkest and coldest months. Need ideas for picturesque winter wonderlands to check out? From Québec City to Harbin, here’s a collection of our favorite winter destinations!
Book a Virtual Holiday Flight To Rovaniemi With Finnair
To spread some extra holiday cheer this year, Finnair, Santa’s official airline, is using virtual reality to offer eight “flights” to Santa’s hometown of Rovaniemi, Finland. This will be Finnair’s first-ever virtual flight experience. Starting on December 25, Finnair’s virtual reality flights will be available for just €10 ($12) per person. All of the flights’ profits will go to a fund created by UNICEF, which will help children who have been negatively affected by COVID-19.
The Real History of Santa Claus
For years, Santa Claus has been busy “making his list and checking it twice,” but the man in the red suit has come a long way from his humble beginnings to the Santa the world knows and loves today.
“O Tannenbaum:” A Closer Look at the History of Christmas Trees
Christmas trees are a beloved tradition for people all over the world, symbolizing the end of the year and the joy of the holiday season. Long thought of as a religious symbol, it may come as a surprise that the earliest origin of the Christmas tree dates back to ancient, paganistic rituals.
Winter Weirdness in the Swiss “Silvesterchläusen” Festival
Oh, those wacky Swiss. As if those giant horns, yodeling, and Heidi weren’t crazy enough, consider the antics that transpire around New Year’s Eve in the tiny Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, in North-East Switzerland.
Santa Claus Village: Where Childhood Dreams Come True
Santa Claus Village, located about 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Rovaniemi in Finland, is one of the world’s top Christmas destinations. Thousands of people flock to this glittering, snow-covered site each year to cross the Arctic Circle, meet with Santa Claus at his actual “office” and experience the magic of Lapland.