Ho ho ho: President Mukherjee meets Santa Claus

Rovaneimi, Finland: 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 today 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. [caption id=“attachment_1753953” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pranab Mukherjee. AFP.[/caption] 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 reindeers, 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 and herding of semi-domesticated reindeer for meat, hides, antlers, milk and transportation. Mukherjee, the first Indian head of state to visit the Santa Claus Village, covered in light snow, was greeted by the elves in Santa’s office as the giant pendulum called “Earth’s Rotational Speed Regulator” at its entrance was swinging. The President saw longest wishlist received by Santa Claus in December, 2012 carrying 75,954 wishes. He also saw the clock that strikes only at midnight of Christmas and New Year. The Santa Claus operates from his office housed in the same village where visitors can meet him throughout the year and ask him to grant their wishes. PTI