The busiest person during this holiday season has set off on a reindeer-driven sleigh for a global tour to deliver Christmas presents.

Santa Claus appeared before children at his home village on the Arctic Circle in Finland on Monday.

He told them that "it might be impossible to be good and nice all the time," but they should do their best.

He added that if the children are quite good almost all of the time, they don't need to worry about not getting gifts.

Santa's sleigh was packed with a large bag of presents. He then departed for his globe-trotting tour, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.