In Himmelpfort, Germany Father Christmas answers children’s letters

It was 1984, Germany was divided into capitalist west and communist east the place Matzke lived, when two letters caught her eye within the mail sorting room. Despatched by youngsters in East Berlin and Saxony, additionally within the east, they have been addressed to Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) in Himmelpfort, which is about 50 miles north of the capital Berlin.

“I couldn’t carry myself to throw them away,” she recalled, now 64. After asking a colleague if letters to Father Christmas had arrived earlier than, she was advised they have been saved away. Within the hope of spreading some seasonal magic, Matzke replied — on behalf of Father Christmas and she or he turned the primary Himmelpfort “angel.”

Phrase unfold and within the subsequent 4 years an increasing number of letters got here. She and her colleagues would reply round 75 letters each December. When the Berlin Wall got here down and Germany reunified, the trickle turned a flood and hundreds of letters started to reach each day within the run as much as Christmas.

By 1995, Deutsche Submit, Germany’s home mail service, employed two helpers. At the moment, that quantity has elevated to twenty to cope with greater than 300,000 letters from 60 international locations — together with American cities from New York to Philadelphia to San Diego, the place apparently youngsters had given up on the North Pole.

Accompanied by Christmas songs on the radio, 4 angels wearing shiny gold robes sit round a desk within the festive put up workplace, embellished from ground to ceiling. From mid-November, they tirelessly work by means of crate after crate of letters to make sure that each receives a reply by the afternoon of Christmas Eve — when presents are historically delivered in Germany. Their work is interrupted solely by sporadic exclamations at a very creative or amusing letter.

Gone are the times of handwritten replies however the printed response, created with the assistance of Matzke, at the least mimics the looping cursive of handwriting (both in German or English). The addresses on the envelopes are handwritten.

The needs over the many years have mirrored the altering instances and traits. From hopes for the most recent gadget to longing to see grandparents in the course of the pandemic years. Some, nevertheless, by no means exit of style. In 2022, the highest needs have been good well being for the household, world peace, a white Christmas, dolls and automobiles.

Within the last push earlier than the massive day, even Father Christmas — wearing his iconic brilliant crimson, floor-length gown — is readily available to lighten the load. A quiet knock prompts him to depart his work and open the window the place Max, 6, has come to ship his letter by hand after a three-hour drive along with his grandparents from the city of Bitterfeld.

Two massive eyes peer out from beneath a rain sodden jacket and widen on the sight of Father Christmas on the window. With a deep breath, Max bursts right into a rendition of the Christmas music, “So viel Heimlichkeit in der Weihnachtszeit” (A lot coziness/secrecy at Christmas). His want listing is strictly for Father Christmas’s eyes solely.

“In any case these years, that’s reward and motivation sufficient to hold on the magic. Particularly as we speak when the times are lived so quick,” stated Father Christmas, returning to his desk to a platter of festive treats. “A few of the sweet comes for the youngsters. They know what Father Christmas likes,” he laughs, patting his midriff.

Himmelpfort is considered one of seven Christmas put up workplaces round Germany and stays the nation’s largest and the one location within the nation’s jap area. But it surely isn’t simply Father Christmas who receives want lists in Germany. Relying on family and native custom, youngsters may also write to St. Nicholas or the Christ Youngster — an angel-like determine in a flowing robe, with blonde, curly hair.

By and huge, historically Protestant areas within the north and east are visited by Father Christmas, whereas the historically Catholic areas of the west and south obtain a name from the Christ Youngster. St. Nick’s work is completed by Dec. 6 on his feast day.

“There’s not any competitors,” Father Christmas chuckles. “It’s simply regional variations. However Father Christmas has remained the massive one.”

After virtually 40 years of answering Christmas want lists, Chief Angel Matzke and her angelic colleagues haven’t any intentions of giving up their work anytime quickly.

“It’s fantastic what this turned,” stated Matzke. “Folks may have given up. However that’s why each little one ought to get a letter again — in any other case we cease believing.”