Designing and offering legend-based experiences: Perspectives of Santa Claus in the Joulupukin Pajakylä
Date Issued
January 1, 2023
DOI
10.1016/j.annals.2022.103519
Abstract
Humans, more than ever before, pursue connections with legends and legendary figures, not least at intentionally designed settings. This quest has endured for millennia as a reflection of legendary narratives that inform the origins, cosmologies, and festivities of people. This study, grounded in an environmental psychology theoretical lens, attempts to reveal what constitutes a legend-based experience. The study analyses visitors' experiences at Lapland's legend-based Joulupukin Pajakylä. The findings deliver understandings of how people interact with a real person acting as a legendary figure and being located amidst the legend and reality environment in a legendary informed setting. The study contributes to the interdisciplinary socio-psychology, business, design, art/folkloric and tourism discourse, relating to the legend-place-visitor triad.