Last elves fired from Santa's Finland HQ
Published:
18 April 2004 y., Sunday
The last three worker elves at Father Christmas's official headquarters in Finland's Arctic have been fired as Santa Park grapples with its finances.
Lack of visitors has meant that the number of Santa's little helpers is now down to two, a far cry from plans to employ 120 staff on a monthly wage when the park opened.
About 800km north of Helsinki, this is where letters addressed just 'To Santa' arrive. The elves were supposed to help Santa and guide visitors around the park.
During these five years (Santa Park) has been able to employ a fraction of the 120 staff for a maximum of three months (a year), usually for about eight weeks," Rajala said, adding the sacked elves had been on temporary leave since last August.
Santa Park made its first operating profit last year, but the company's bottom line remained in the red as it still has annual costs of about Ђ400 000 (a$492,700) related to the initial construction of the park to pay for the next 15 years.
Šaltinis:
iol.co.za
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Pope Benedict on Sunday created five new saints.
more »
The boat - a replica war junk from the Ming Dynasty - was on the last leg of a journey across the Pacific when the Captain said disaster struck.
more »
In three resolutions adopted at the end of this week's Strasbourg plenary sessions, the European Parliament strongly condemns discrimination and violence against women in Afghanistan, voices concern at the possible closure of Camp Ashraf, Iraq, and expresses support for the Special Court of Sierra Leone.
more »
Using a mobile phone is about to get cheaper again for the tens of millions of people who cross EU borders every day.
more »
The spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery is one of the most serious international stability and security threats according to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
more »
In eastern China's Weifang City, thousands gather to celebrate the largest international kite festival in history.
more »
A swarm of photographers and journalists surrounded the house of Susan Boyle in Blackburn, Scotland.
She's become an internet sensation and it all started on a little show called “Britain's Got Talent”.
more »
EU keeps consumers safe with alert system for dangerous products.
more »
Driving the car off the streets - thousands of cyclists reclaim the streets of Manila.
more »
One hundred young creators and innovators designated by European regions gather today in Brussels to mark the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.
more »