One of my favorite things about Holidailies is the prompts. I’m a journalist, and usually by the end of the day the last thing I want to do think of something to write about, even if ultimately I enjoy it, so the random prompts are helpful in nudging me along.

Today Holidailies asked: Where do you fantasize spending your perfect December holiday time? It has to be somewhere you’ve never been before.

I would love to go to Finnish Lapland and stay in one of the bubble, dome, or viewing accommodations where I could see the northern lights from bed. Imagine having some hot chocolate, maybe with some peppermint schnapps mixed in, and gazing out at the sky and the scenery while warm and toasty under some warm blankets.

If I stayed near Rovaniemi, I’d go to Santa Claus Village, too. However, I would forgo sitting on Santa’s lap. I couldn’t lie to him and tell him I was nice when I was actually kind of naughty, heh.

It’s funny, but if anyone had asked me 10 years ago where I’d want to spend the holidays, it would have been someplace warm, possibly tropical, with lots of interesting and colorful birds flying around, but ever since I got into listening to Poets of the Fall in 2014, I’ve been fascinated with Finland. I’ve never been there, but I’ve been dying to go for about five or six years now and I was so very sad to have to cancel my Thanksgiving trip to Helsinki.

The country itself looks absolutely gorgeous, with lots of forest to lose oneself in, and I love cold weather and snow. But beyond that, it just seems like the Finnish people have their priorities straight on education, health care, equity and equality, and the environment. Plus, I’m all for a certain amount of introversion and personal space, being introverted and one who cherishes time alone.

Maybe I’ll be able to go in 2024.

P.S. “Hyvää vuodenvaihdetta!” is the equivalent of “season’s greetings!”