Over a quarter of a million letters have already graced the doors of Christmas post offices ahead of the festive season. The Christkind post office in Engelskirchen, nestled near Cologne, has received an impressive 100,000, leaving the personnel agog at the originality and heartfelt wishes. Meanwhile, Himmelpfort in Brandenburg boasts over 200,000 letters, a testament to the holiday spirit.
The mailbag is bustling too at Saint Nicholas post office in St. Nicholas, Saarland. At around 27,000 to 28,000 letters, Sabine Gerecke, head of the children's letter campaign, admits it seems like an avalanche. A team of close to 50 dedicated volunteers will labor non-stop for six weeks in response.
Across Germany, seven Christmas post offices serve as the magical mail carriers for children wishing to communicate with Santa Claus, the Christ Child, or Saint Nicholas. Himmelsthür, located near Hildesheim, is among these, having received 30,000 letters to date.
Traditionally, annual balances aren't drawn until after the festivities. Himmelpfort in Brandenburg, for instance, only closes on Christmas Eve, with over 310,000 letters being handed to Deutsche Post from children in 60 countries the previous year.
International correspondence results in a diverse range of replies, including Ukrainian, Hungarian, Russian, Spanish, English, and Chinese, catching the eyes of global postal services. These letters hail from corners of the earth, but the majority stem from German children.
Children exhibit a worldly awareness, according to Engelskirchen's Christkind post office. Hermine, for example, envisaged her gifts being forwarded to Africa. Clara dreamt of an end to global hunger. A young boy hoped for peace in Ukraine, Israel, and the entire world, alongside a plentiful supply of food and shelter for all.
Whilst material gifts like a PlayStation and striped socks feature on some children's wish list, many others showcase a deeper consciousness. Aspirations for love, understanding, harmony, health, happiness, and knowledge permeate the letters, as children of all ages touch on themes of empathy, unity, and compassion.
Although research on the exact number of letters sent globe-trotting to Santa Claus is not readily available, the tradition's enduring appeal remains undiminished, serving as a symbol of the holiday season's magic and wonderment.
