An Australian primary school teacher has swapped her classroom for the enchanting winter wonderland of Santa's official workshop, trading the summer sun for the magical aurora-lit skies of the Arctic Circle.
From Classroom to Candy Canes: A Teacher's Arctic Adventure
Mia Sheppard, a dedicated educator from the Central Coast of New South Wales, has embarked on an extraordinary eight-week Christmas adventure. She is now living and working in Finnish Lapland as one of Santa's official helpers, adopting the playful elf name 'Crunchy'.
The festive-loving teacher revealed her family was not surprised by her polar pilgrimage. "I am a massive Christmas lover and usually I start decorating in October, so this is very on brand," Ms Sheppard explained. She discovered the unique seasonal role through social media and immediately seized the opportunity to work alongside the jolliest man on Earth.
Life in the Elf Lane: Duties in a Winter Wonderland
An elf's responsibilities are as varied as the toys in Santa's sack. Ms Sheppard's duties range from greeting visitors at the airport with 'elfy' enthusiasm to guiding guests through the enchanting Snow Village. Her tasks include storytelling sessions about Father Christmas, leading carol singing, facilitating husky and reindeer safaris, organising snowball fights, and ensuring the cookie supply is constantly replenished.
"Our jobs can be picking up guests from the airport and making it fun and elfy on the way there and back," she described. "We can also have different jobs at Snow Village which is magical, this can range from Santa's cabin with Santa to helping the guests with huskies and reindeer or having snowfights and eating cookies."
She emphasises that the work feels far from a chore. "For me the work is barely work, it's just so much fun and such a magical place. Every day is magical."
Braving the Arctic Chill for Christmas Cheer
The environmental shift from an Australian December to the heart of the Arctic winter is profound. Lapland, where the first snow typically falls in September, presents temperatures that can plummet to a bone-chilling minus 30 degrees Celsius. Ms Sheppard has already experienced a sharp drop to minus 25 degrees, which she admitted "gave us a shock early on".
Beyond the cold, the lack of daylight presents its own challenge during the polar night period. "It's a big adjustment, especially with the lack of sunlight," she noted, though she praised the beautiful pink and orange skies. "I miss the sun. Vitamin D supplements are essential."
Ms Sheppard is sharing snippets of her enchanting elf life with a global audience on her TikTok account, @mia.traiiningday, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the magic that defines Christmas in Lapland.
The experience underscores a universal truth for this Aussie educator: in the land of the Northern Lights and Santa's post office—which receives letters from children in 199 countries—the spirit of Christmas is not just alive; it's a way of life.
