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features
Changed by Rovaniemi – Véronique, the biggest fan of Christmas? 7/7
In our new “Changed by Rovaniemi”- blog series, we share unique stories from travelers of Rovaniemi. We asked, what makes Lapland so special to them, why they have fallen in love with Lapland, and what makes some of them return time after time. Take a look at the story of French Véronique, who transforms her living room in Troyes every year as a miniature Christmas Village. In 2020, Véronique finally got to visit Rovaniemi – The Official Hometown of Santa Claus®.
December is Véronique Roizard’s (56 years) favorite month of the year. Celebrating birthday in the middle of Christmas suits well for the huge fan of Christmas.
”I’ve been building the miniature Christmas village in my home every year for over 20 years now. The decorations are collected from all over the world, from Belgium, France, England – and now from Finland. After visiting Rovaniemi, I enlarged the area by adding the miniature of Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, too.”
Watch the story of her Christmas Village by French TV Canal 32.
When Veronique was a kid, her father worked hard to feed the family of five. In Véronique’s memories, the Christmasses of her childhood were rather simple, and they didn’t have much decorations in the house – nor anything under the Christmas tree. Yet, the kids always looked forward to the Christmas eve and were satisfied to receive an orange as a gift.
After years, Véronique was able to buy a train under the Christmas tree, and every year she receives beautiful animated Christmas decorations as a birthday gift. Eventually, the decorations have grown year by year – and nowadays her livingroom-Christmas village is well-known in France.
In 2020, Véronique came to meet Santa Claus in Lapland.
”Of course, I visited Rovaniemi. You can’t come to Finland without visiting Santa Claus! My stay in Lapland was a great adventure. Everything was so calm and serene – I was totally in my element there.”
Visiting Santa Claus was a childhood dream for Véronique. During the visit, she also gave Santa Claus a photo of her father, who had already passed away seven years ago – but who always wanted to visit Santa Claus in Rovaniemi.
”Lapland is like another world… a beautiful world, where I found my place. In Rovaniemi, you can feel the Christmas magic, love, sharing, and dreams in the eyes of each passer-by.”
