Contrary to a popular, understandable belief, preparations for Christmas festivities in Rovaniemi don’t start in October (a time when our supermarkets start stocking their seasonal range) nor do they commence in September when a cold chill sweeps in... no, Christmas is something they live with, every single day.

In fact, no sooner are they taking down one tree then they’re putting up another one. Some decorations are wisely kept on until they start to show embarrassing signs of decay. Festive balloons either burst through natural causes, or when some troublesome, hell-raising tourist pops them.

The above shouldn’t really come as any surprise, considering how the town practically lives within our very image of Christmas. Every day the region opens its doors to visitors who literally can’t wait for December 25. From the heart-warming summer months of perpetual sunlight to the gloomy winter months of near-darkness, Lapland’s Christmas festivities are a constant. People love having the opportunity to feel at one with the child within them.

But what drives them to visit Lapland in the first place? Well, employees of the Santa Clause village in Rovaniemi will tell you that they throw a Christmas party unlike no other. After all they have:

• The closest thing to a real-life Santa Claus – not some bearded stranger but, apparently, the real thing. Santa’s secret getaway is in the East of Lapland, on the Korvatunturi Fell, where he was first spotted in the 1920s. The Korvatunturi Fell is 483 metres high and is shaped like an ear. With its unique shape, Santa can apparently listen to all the children around the world.

• Santa Claus’s Office and Santa Claus’s Main Post Office, as well as the reindeer park nearby.

• Real red-nosed reindeers (one of which is believed to be an actual descendant of the renowned Rudolph.)

• Laughter-inducing elves in cute green outfits.

• White snow, stretching as far as the eyes can see.

• Houses with chimneys big enough for actual presents to be dropped into.

The list goes on and we’ve only really scratched the surface, because truth be told there really isn’t anywhere more Christmassy than Lapland.

That said, their Christmas reality looks a lot like ours: they open presents, have a huge breakfast brunch followed by a minor squabble about who will do the dishes and get started on a huge celebratory supper. Once dinner is on the way the kids head outside to play on kick sleds and frolic in the snow. It may seem mundane, but when you’re part of a society that celebrates Christmas every day of the year, well, there are 364 others to make more memorable!