Wooden reindeer disappears from Helsinki café during hockey championship celebrations

A large wooden reindeer vanished from outside a Helsinki café and hotel early Monday morning amid Finland’s ice hockey world championship celebrations, Lapland Hotels Bulevardi confirmed to Yle.

The reindeer, part of a group of about ten wooden sculptures displayed outside the Kultá Kitchen & Bar, was taken by a reveler during the night, according to hotel manager Nathalie Huber. She described the incident as a disappearance rather than theft, noting the figure has “joined the celebrations” and expressing hope for its return.

Security footage shows an individual carrying the reindeer away, Huber said. Social media posts, including a widely shared Instagram video showing the figure being carried through crowds, have sparked public amusement. The hotel’s appeal for its return has drawn good-natured responses, with many offering to help locate it.

While the reindeer’s monetary value is unclear, Huber emphasized its significance as part of the hotel’s Lappish-themed décor. The figures were handcrafted by the hotel chain’s in-house carpenter in northern Finland. Similar incidents have occurred before, she added, with the reindeer occasionally being moved short distances before recovery.

Lapland Hotels operates properties in Helsinki, Lapland, Tampere, and Oulu, with the missing reindeer belonging to its Helsinki location.