Jingle bells rang two months earlier this year for Pranab Mukherjee as he became the first Indian President to visit Santa Claus’s official workplace here on Thursday and met him in person.
Mukherjee, accompanied by his daughter Sharmistha, spent a ‘fairytale’ day with a host of activities including a meeting with Santa and his elves, crossing the Arctic Circle and watching reindeers in action.
The President, on a two-day visit to Finland, was received here by Mayor Esko lotvonen, chairman of city council Heikki Autto and Managing Director for the Arctic Circle Jarmo Kariniemi.
They crossed the Arctic Circle, a highly popular ritual among tourists visiting the Santa Claus Village.
Rovaniemi is situated directly on the Arctic Circle at 66.5 degrees north latitude. This latitude marks the southern boundary of the Arctic region, known for its nightless summer nights and sunless winter days. Mukherjee and his daughter also received a certificate for crossing the Arctic circle.
later, the President saw reindeers strolling at a farm. The reindeers are well known in folklore due to Santa Claus’s sleigh being pulled by flying reindeer, a popular element of Christmas.
From Santa’s Rudolph to reindeers with huge antlers, they caught his fancy as the instructors briefed him about their business of hunting of wild reindeers.