As December approaches, the first signs of the festive season appear in the most unexpected places. In Himmelsthür, a small district of Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, the country’s most famous Christmas post office has reopened—quietly continuing a tradition that has touched generations of children.
This year, the season started early: roughly 1,500 letters have already arrived from across the globe, each filled with hopes, drawings, wish lists or simple greetings to Santa.
Where the world sends its Christmas dreams
For many families, writing a letter to Santa is a treasured ritual. At the Himmelsthür post office, the incoming mail speaks dozens of languages and reflects a remarkable variety of cultures. Some children list their dream gifts, others confide worries that feel far too heavy for their age, and many simply want to wish Santa a peaceful Christmas.
According to the German postal service, the tradition at Himmelsthür dates back to the 1960s, when the first letters addressed to “An den Weihnachtsmann, Himmelsthür, 31137 Hildesheim” began landing in local mailboxes. What started as a curiosity has since grown into a nationwide cultural staple.
A global flow of letters: from Australia to Taiwan
Postal coordinators explain that last year alone around 47,000 letters reached Himmelsthür, with the majority coming from within Germany. Yet the postmarks tell a much broader story.
Children from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Taiwan, China and the United States have already written this year—often asking for good health, peace, time with family, or even, in some cases, a successful school year. Gift lists remain popular, but emotional wishes and personal hopes now fill many envelopes.
How the letters are answered
Every letter that arrives is opened and handled with care. Staff from Deutsche Post, along with dedicated volunteers, prepare warm responses on behalf of Santa. These replies typically include a short festive story and a personal greeting.
For the saddest letters—those that reveal fear, loneliness or hardship—volunteers often take extra time to craft messages that feel personal and supportive, ensuring that no child’s voice goes unanswered.
To ensure that children receive Santa’s reply before Christmas Eve, all wish lists should be mailed no later than 12 December. Families are asked to write the sender’s details clearly on the envelope so that the reply finds its way home without delay.
Himmelsthür is one of seven official Christmas mail centers in Germany, all of which open during the Advent season and collectively receive around 600,000 letters each year.
Addresses of Germany’s Christmas mail offices
- An den Weihnachtsmann, Himmelsthür, 31137 Hildesheim (Lower Saxony)
- An den Weihnachtsmann, Weihnachtspostfiliale, 16798 Himmelpfort (Brandenburg)
- An das Christkind, 51777 Engelskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
- An das Christkind, 21709 Himmelpforten (Lower Saxony)
- An das Christkind, 97267 Himmelstadt (Bavaria)
- An den Nikolaus, 49681 Nikolausdorf (Lower Saxony)
- An den Nikolaus, Nikolausplatz, 66351 St. Nikolaus (Saarland)
Each location has developed its own traditions over the decades, but they share a single purpose: bringing a sense of magic to children, no matter where they come from.
A small message that carries enormous meaning
Amid the tens of thousands of envelopes, one theme always stands out. Children write with sincerity and an unshakable belief in kindness. Between the drawings, wish lists and heartfelt words, these letters form a gentle reminder of what the Advent season is meant to celebrate: hope written on paper, sent with trust, and answered with care.
