The traditional Finnish name for Santa Claus is Joulupukki.
The Finnish word combines “joulu,” meaning Christmas, with “pukki,” meaning goat. The name reflects the older Yule Goat tradition found across parts of Scandinavia and northern Europe. Over time, Finnish Christmas customs blended this local figure with the international Santa Claus character.
Modern Joulupukki is generally portrayed as a bearded gift-bringer in red clothing. In Finland, he is traditionally said to live in the northern region of Lapland, and many stories place his home near Korvatunturi, a fell close to the Russian border.
Joulupukki is not the same figure as Sweden’s straw Yule Goat, although both names preserve a connection to older goat imagery. Finnish tourism also promotes Santa Claus Village near Rovaniemi, but the folkloric home at Korvatunturi and the tourist attraction are different locations.