Woman Embarks on New Career as Santa’s Elf in Lapland

Emily Henry, a woman from Hereford, has undertaken a winter position in Lapland, serving as one of Santa’s elves, enduring extremely cold conditions. She stated that upon seeing an advertisement for the role, she “couldn’t resist trying it”. Her daily responsibilities involve recounting traditional Scandinavian tales to children gathered around a campfire and assisting Santa within his workshop. Ms. Henry commented on the demanding nature of the work, stating, “It’s very busy, we’ve got a lot of children on the good list this year so we’ve got a lot of presents to be making.” Maintaining her elf persona is a requirement for Ms. Henry whenever she is in uniform. Furthermore, she is prohibited from sharing photographs of herself in costume to preserve the enchantment within Santa’s village. She also noted that the severe cold, with temperatures reaching as low as -35C (-31F), was “like nothing I’ve experienced before.” Ms. Henry mentioned that she and her coworkers must take vitamin D supplements to manage the limited daylight, as the sun appears for only two hours daily. This situation, she explained, was also impacting her preparation for next year’s London Marathon, which she is continuing while in Finland. Describing the conditions, Ms. Henry stated, “It’s quite a challenge out here in the freezing cold.” She added, “My eyelashes completely freeze, my hair freezes.” Despite the difficulties, she affirmed its value, saying, “I’ve definitely not regretted it, it’s just an incredible experience.” While Ms. Henry maintains a social life in conjunction with her elf duties, it is subject to certain limitations. She elaborated, “We have to go out past 22:00 so as not to meet any children at the pub.” Adding a humorous note, she concluded, “But sometimes an elf does need a pint at the end of the day.” Readers can find BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information on its external linking policy.