The dark history of Santa's official hometown
The Christmas village of Rovaniemi is a tourist magnet in Europe, attracting over a million visitors last year. But not many know that its success story goes back to WWII, when it was annihilated by the German troops' scorched earth policy. After the war, the Finnish reindeer-shaped town completely re-imagined itself in the most unexpected way, by branding itself as the hometown of Santa Claus.
Video by Saila Huusko
Executive producer: Anna Bressanin
Graphics: Pomona Pictures
Special thanks to the Regional Museum of Lapland.




















