• Germany edition
Checking it twice... Photo: DPA

Santa's post office opens in Himmelpfort

Published: 10 Nov 08 08:33 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20081110-15417.html

Germany’s most beloved Christmas post office opened on Monday in Himmelpfort in anticipation of receiving thousands of letters from hopeful children to Santa Claus this year, Deutsche Post reported.

Town officials, including Father Christmas himself, were on hand to celebrate the opening some six weeks before Christmas Day. Last year the post office received – and answered – some 280,000 letters to Santa Claus from children in more than 80 countries. The office in the German state of Brandenburg is the one of seven in the country, but the only holiday post office in the formerly communist eastern states.

The town name, Himmelpfort, means "heaven's gate."

Letters from the naughty and nice to St. Nick, or the Weihnachtsmann as he's known in Germany, can be addressed to:

Weihnachtsmann
Weihnachtspostfiliale
16798 Himmelpfort
Germany

DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This
Today's headlines
Demonstration against the Syrian regime in Berlin. Photo: DPA

Syrian spy suspects arrested in Berlin

German police arrested two men in Berlin Tuesday accused of spying on opponents of the Syrian regime in raids involving some 70 officers, federal prosecutors said. READ »

Photo: DPA

Lost ancient artefacts found after 50 years

Nearly 50 ancient artefacts have been returned to the Bode Museum, Berlin, decades after being looted by Soviet soldiers. The find has sparked hope that more objects lost during the war will turn up. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Frozen kraut jam leaves autobahn drivers sauer

An accident involving two trucks, a car and a large quantity of sauerkraut caused a 10-kilometre traffic jam on the A5 motorway in the German state of Hesse on Tuesday morning after the German delicacy froze solid on the road. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Sex helps 'keep you young' in old age

Staying sexually active in old age keeps your brain ticking, according to a recent study in which 70 percent of those Germans over 75 said they were happy with their antics between the sheets. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Hoeneß: Bayern saved Dortmund with €2 mln

With Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich battling it out for top spot in the German league title race, Bayern's Uli Hoeneß has revealed they loaned Dortmund €2 million to help save their rivals from bankruptcy. READ »

Photo: DPA

Virus lays low thousands of farm animals

Thousands of cows, sheep and goats have been infected with a flu-like virus across Germany, with the number of infected herds increasing sharply over the weekend. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Germans jailed in UK for owning terrorist material

Two German men were jailed in Britain on Monday after pleading guilty to possessing articles from an al-Qaida magazine. READ (17 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Wulff case 'a chance to open up German politics'

As President Christian Wulff remains mired in allegations of impropriety, anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI) has called for politicians to use the case as a chance to open up German politics. READ »

More Society
Highlights
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The economy in shambles, angry street protests and the government on the brink after passing unpopular reforms. But this is not Greece in 2012 – it was Germany a decade ago. Marc Young looks back to see an agenda for the future.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Germany’s public transportation largely operates on the honour system, which makes fare dodging easy. You can have your say on how Germany should deal with the problem.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Macho German football legend Rudi Assauer says he has Alzheimer’s Disease, an admission one expert told The Local could help stoke discussion of an illness often considered taboo.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
A 64-year-old tub of American lard has been deemed fit for human consumption by food safety authorities in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Photo: Yves Gabriel
LIFESTYLE »
What's on in Germany: February 2 - 8
Photo: Columbia Pictures
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
As Hamburg’s legendary Reeperbahn strip gentrifies, Stephen Lowman reports how the city’s “sinful mile” is changing.
Photo: Bavarian International School
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A global education - a Bavarian community
Photo ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin



See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

1073 jobs available
681 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
English-speaking educators (native level)

Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!