In this March 2013 photo, A Sami handler in traditional clothing holds two of his herd in Saariselka, Finnish Lapland.

One theory purports Santa is a Sámi shaman. The Sámi are the indigenous people of Sápmi (referred to as Lapland by outsiders ), in northern Scandinavia. The story goes like this: Once upon a time, ...

NOW. A COMMUNITY IN MOURNING. A HUSBAND AND WIFE ARE DEAD FROM A MURDER-SUICIDE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA. POLICE FOUND THE COUPLE SHOT TUESDAY AFTERNOON INSIDE THEIR HOME IN THE CHRISTMAS LAKE VILLAGE ...

ST. NIKOLAUS, Germany (AP) — Santa’s elves start early in Germany. Three postal workers set off Saturday on their nearly 3,000-kilometer (1,860-mile) bicycle journey from St. Nikolaus, Germany, to the ...

ST. NIKOLAUS, Germany — Santa's elves start early in Germany. Three postal workers set off Saturday on their nearly 1,860-mile bicycle journey from St. Nikolaus, Germany, to the small town of ...

ROVANIEMI, Finland — After dinner at the Bull Bar and Grill in the small Finnish city of Rovaniemi, Mariel Tähtivaara, a law student, popped into a supermarket to grab some dessert. As she perused the ...

A tourist season that stretches from October to March has been anything but jolly for some residents of the “Official Hometown of Santa Claus.” A tourist season that stretches from October to March ...