HELSINKI, Finland (AP) -- Santa's workshop may not be the joyous place it was in years past for the tens of thousands of tourists expected to visit northern Finland this winter. Facing a blizzard of debt, Saint Nick laid off many of the elves who work at the SantaPark attraction near the Arctic Circle.
"I feel really dejected, because being an elf is part of my identity," said Milja Vilmila, who was told her job as an elf helping Santa no longer existed. "Something will definitely be missing this Christmas."
Business is booming in Lapland, a vast area known as the last wilderness in Europe where traditionally nomadic Samis - or Lapps - herd reindeer. But SantaPark, which has accumulated $550,000 in debt in its five years of operation, has only seen visits decline.
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