This is the busiest week for Lapland tourism. Helsingin Sanomat travels up north to investigate the region's wintery appeal that has transformed Rovaniemi from a small town of 65,000 to a "staged Arctic travel destination".
Last year, Rovaniemi Airport set a visitor record of nearly 740,000, and this year's numbers have long since surpassed that. This is why Rovaniemi no longer markets winter or Christmas but is instead trying to get tourists excited about summer, according to HS.
The paper highlights the irony that the destination is out of reach for most average earners in Finland during the pricey Christmas season. Just as well, most elves and Santas there only speak English.
According to HS, the experience is not really Finnish at all. Rovaniemi doesn't feel like Finland, but more like an artificial fairyland, like Las Vegas, with tourist hotspots blending Lapland mysticism, Disney imagery, Mauri Kunnas and Nutcracker dolls.
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F-35 vs drones
Finland's acquisition of 60 new F-35 fighter jets is its largest defence investment in the past 30 years, valued at some ten billion euros.
Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has recently fired off a series of posts on social media platform X, taking aim at the aircraft's capabilities compared to unmanned aerial systems.
According to Hufvudstadsbladet, the Tesla billionaire's criticism that the F-35s are outdated is not entirely incorrect, noting that next-generation solutions will likely involve a larger manned aircraft surrounded by smaller unmanned platforms. In western countries, drones are appealing since they do not risk the lives of fighter pilots, the paper explains.
Black Christmas
Parts of the country are set to experience a 'black Christmas,' with temperatures rising above freezing — including in Lapland — on Christmas Day, according to Maaseudun Tulevaisuus.
People in southern Finland can expect a snowless Christmas, should forecasts prove accurate. Rain and mild weather have melted much of the snow, particularly along the southern coast. While a white Christmas is expected in the southeastern corner of the country, snow will be scarce in the south and southwest.
On Christmas Eve, Lapland will see temperatures around -10 degrees Celsius, while southern and eastern regions will experience near-zero temperatures, with some areas close to the coast slightly above freezing.
This is the year's final paper review. Our weekday domestic newspaper roundups will return on 7 January.
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