To go to Lapland and not see Santa/ do anything X mas related

[Onemoresleeeeep]

Is that just plain weird?

we’re Muslim BUT I’ve just seen some pictures of a Lapland holiday and it looks so lovely. Obviously we don’t celebrate Christmas but the dog sleds, the skiing, the northern lights, the camp fires, the skidoos and sleigh rides, staying in an igloo.

i obviously don’t want to confuse my kids but aibu in thinking there’s still a fair amount to do if you don’t want to partake in the Christmas stuff

You don't have to justify why you don't want to take part in the santa-stuff!

Could you go after christmas? Around New Years instead so there is less of a focus?

I haven't been but done lots of research and it looks like there is plenty to do thats not "christmassy". If you do go, have a brilliant time and please update when you get home! 😊

We go skiing to Finland every year and have never done anything Christmassy. Mainly because we usually go in February and have always been adults but there's loads to do. We've done ski mobiles, reindeer sledges, husky sledges, ice hole fishing, snow walking, etc. You might find it hard to completely fill the day if you don't ski but you could definitely do one activity a day over a week. We go to the Ruka ski resort and it's always been great and good for beginners.

We flew to Ivalo then stayed in Inari between Christmas and New Year. No santa in sight! It's a wonderful place, we did low key excursions (snowshoeing, cross country ski, visit to the Sami museum). Be warned that daylight is very short - the sun doesn't rise but the sky is light from about 10.30 to 13.30, with a dim twilight an hour at each side. It was very strange leaving a restaurant at lunchtime in pitch darkness! I loved it though, very haunting and beautiful place.

We won’t be going for a few years yet lol but i saw a holiday add and thought it looked so so lovely it didn’t even dawn on me it would still be a thing as it were after the x mas season- how silly right!

if i remember I’ll update the thread haha!

it just looks dreamy and almost other worldly in its beauty

YANBU, but go after Christmas and New Year, it will be miles cheaper and there will be less focus on Christmas.

All of this and you’re not going for a few years yet
your comment still makes no sense
santa and Lapland have nothing to do with religion but you seem insistent to still associate the two with a religious event

they are as religious as the Easter bunny
Your initial comment worried about the religious connotations of Lapland and Santa as you are Muslim . there are none .

But I can still save for it and plan for it can I not? It’s only 2 years away. That’s how far in advance we plan our big holidays. And having looked on tui, they don’t do any package hols past December but I’m glad that’s not reflective of the entire tourist industry in Lapland

there’s no connection between the Easter bunny and Easter? Are you ok? It’s literally in the name. Yes there is no theological connection BUT there is a cultural one. There is also a connection with Father Christmas and Christmas… shocking I know! How you can possibly say other wise is just stupid

Loads of things are associated with Christmas … Cakes, Crackers, Elves, Reindeer, Trees, Santa, etc etc - none of which are anything to do with Christianity.
There is religious festival at that time of year, celebrating the birth of Christ. There is also a cultural festival at that time … which is cake, champagne, Turkey and Santa. They are not the same thing.
Plus - if you live in the Uk, you will struggle to avoid anything Santa / Christmas related .. as Tesco had been pushing it since September.

Nonsense! Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas!!

What is this ardent denial that Santa has anything to do with Christmas, is clearly does, it’s literally Father Christmas. He’s hardly around all year.

Santa claus is derived from st Nicholas and it’s from him there is the tradition of gift giving. It’s is a huge part of what is what is commonly understood as Christmas in many many countries, yes it’s not Christian theology but it’s what many associate with x mas… myself included.

but we do, my children don’t sing carols, don’t participate in nativities, so gifts or go to see Santa etc here nor will they. We have no tree, no decorations, gifts, we don’t do cards (we will return one non festive one if given). So see it but we don’t participate here

Oh lovely!

Why do people have to nit pick everything? OP said they don't partake in Santa related stuff, stop starting arguments for the sake of it and just accept it, whatever her reasons it's her choice to make.

We went to Saariselka, it's beautiful and not so commercialised, agree with PPs who said Jan/Feb would be a good time to go!

It’s because I’m Muslim :)

Don't go just before Xmas as it will be Christmassy and expensive! Go in Feb half term or Easter hols

The giving of presents is I believe related to the wise men giving baby Jesus gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh.

Op I would see it as educational - they'll see enough Santa stuff in the Uk so no need to hide its existence from them

Oh my goodness why are people giving the OP such a hard time? She doesn't celebrate any aspect of Christmas - just respect that.

@Onemoresleeeeep I'm glad it looks like you will plan a trip to Lapland - it looks so amazing. Have fun when you do it! I've never been but definitely agree it'll be a lot cheaper in January/February. Plus be nice to have something to look forward to during those dreary weeks!

Starting to feel like some posters might have an Islamophobia agenda OP!
ignore them.

Go to Lapland!!! It looks heavenly. I would love to go. If you are set on going in December I would just accept that some bits of the holiday might be Father Christmas themed - are your kids old enough to accept it as a ‘this is how some people celebrate, and it’s lovely; in our culture we do X,Y,Z instead?’. If not, I would just go Feb half term? It’ll be cheaper as well?

sorry but Santa is pretty far from educational. we (Muslims ) believe we shouldn’t celebrate or partake in the celebration of religious festivals aside from the ones we are given in Islam (the eids) we live in a Christian country they are familiar with what Christmas is. To be clear it’s not a case of ‘one crap, that’s a Santa Claus… quick kids cover your eyes’ rather im not going to to the santas post office, or find Santa, or santas workshop bits. All of that will be effectively moot as some lovely posters pointed out, Jan and Feb are also brilliant times to go and less Christmassy and cheaper.. win win.

Thank you lovely!

i think we’d do jan / feb instead plus cheaper :)

lovely suggestions on this thread (islamaphobia aside)