Ruka Christmas holidays
Sitting on the borders of Lapland, home to Father Christmas himself, Ruka understandably makes a big deal out of Christmas! The resort feels like a magical winter wonderland all season long, and that feeling is present at Christmas time more than ever. Christmas Eve usually sees a host of traditional Finnish activities, including a communal prayer at the bottom of the slopes and an open-air play performed by pupils from the local school – complete with props made from snow! Local bars usually offer hot glasses of traditional Finnish glöegi, and local shops often give discounts on children’s presents if you want to do a little last minute shopping. If this Christmas is anything like previous years, you can also expect firework displays, reindeer feeding and, of course, Santa Claus – including the unforgettable chance to search for him on husky-drawn sleds. The slopes are open all day on Christmas Day, providing the perfect opportunity to take kids over to the Rosa & Rudolf adventure zone where they can ski past herds of reindeer and right through the centre of a traditional Finnish house! Things can still be a little touch and go in some European resorts, but snow conditions here are usually excellent in late December. Whilst there are only a few hours of daylight each day, the vast majority of Ruka’s slopes are floodlit to allow skiing to continue.
Remember to pack plenty of good quality of thermals and fleeces before you start squeezing in stocking fillers, as the temperature at this time of year is usually well below zero. Ask us about snowsuit hire, which can make the whole week a lot more comfortable.
Christmas snow and skiing conditions in Ruka
Christmas Snow History
Top alt:492m
Average snow depth
Christmas39cm
Bottom alt:291m
Average snow depth
Christmas25cm
Resort alt:291m
Christmas ski rating