During Advent, tens of thousands of children's wish lists pile up in Bavaria's only Christmas post office. By no means all are from girls and boys who want crayons, cuddly toys and books.
Himmelstadt (dpa/lby) - Some dream of dolls and cars, others of a whole family: More than 60,000 letters from children and adults have now arrived at Bavaria's only Christmas post office in Himmelstadt in Lower Franconia. "We're covered up to the ruff," says Rosemarie Schotte, the honorary head of the Christmas post office. "We have already answered around 50,000 letters" - most children would receive a standardized letter from the Christkind. However, a number of letters had arrived without an address. "We can't answer that."
In addition to classics such as painting materials, building blocks or bicycles, some girls and boys also wished for an intact family. "The children write about the death of a parent or about illnesses," says the 82-year-old. "Mothers write about their seriously ill child, or it's about marital disputes." When it comes to issues like this, Schotte picks up his own pen and answers the letters personally. "We'll sit here until our thumbs fall asleep." Even long after Christmas, letters from the Christkind would still be sent all over the world.
Himmelstadt is one of several so-called Christmas post offices in Germany. Schotte has been answering letters since 1993. This year she is supported by more than 30 volunteers.
The Christmas post office in the small village in the Main-Spessart district has existed since 1986, when around 3,500 letters arrived each year. If you would like an answer from the Christkind, you should address your letter "To the Christkind, Kirchplatz 3, 97267 Himmelstadt".
