Messengers Pedaling Their Way to Lapland for Santa Claus
Three Postal Workers Embark on a 3,000-Kilometre Bicycle Journey to Deliver Christmas Wishes
Three postal workers from St. Nikolaus, Germany, are embarking on a unique and heartwarming journey this year. Their destination? Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland, a journey that spans through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, covering nearly 3,000 kilometres.
The trio, who will be riding on two yellow postal bicycles and one mountain bike, are on a mission to physically deliver letters and Christmas wish lists addressed to Santa Claus. This annual tradition dates back to 1967 and is a cultural highlight for several German towns with Christmas-themed names, including St. Nikolaus, which receives over 30,000 such letters each year.
The postal workers represent Deutsche Post’s volunteer team responsible for replying to these letters worldwide. This year, Saint Nicholas of St. Nikolaus has entrusted the riders with his own wish list, hoping to receive a reply from Santa Claus in Finland. Each response letter includes a special stamp as part of the tradition.
The team consists of Simone Nehring from the post office in Bremen, Thomas Schneider from the Saarland Nikolaus post office, and Ralf Müller from the post office in Hamburg. They formed a friendship and have previously completed extreme tours together. The Saarland Nikolaus post office answered over 33,000 children's letters from around the world last winter.
The journey begins at the post office in St. Nikolaus, Saarland, and their first stop is Rüsselsheim. Along the way, they will visit the post offices in Bremen and Hamburg to collect more wish lists. The cyclists plan to ride mainly on country roads, covering 200 to 250 kilometres each day. They will not be using electric motors on their bicycles.
The cycling trio receives a personal letter to Santa Claus from the postmaster in St. Nikolaus, and the Saarland Nikolaus is delighted with his unusual summer task. The journey is not just about delivering letters; it's also about spreading joy and fostering a sense of community.
In addition, this tour is collecting donations for the "Bunter Kreis Hagen" association, which supports families with seriously ill children. A support vehicle will carry clothing, tools, and spare parts for the cyclists.
The main goal of the cyclists is the Santa Claus village post office, but they also plan to continue to the North Cape. The cyclists hope to complete their journey in about two to three weeks. The Saarland Nikolaus is confident that with their team spirit and determination, they will make it to the end.
As the cyclists set off on their journey, they embody both the festive spirit and the German postal service's outreach in maintaining this cherished cultural tradition of responding to children's letters. Their journey is a testament to the power of community, friendship, and the magic of Christmas.
During their 3,000-kilometre bicycle journey, the postal workers might tune their radios to a station playing festive tunes, singing along as they pedal through different European countries. Alongside their mission of delivering Christmas wishes, they also aim to spread lifestyle changes, encouraging children to adopt healthy habits by participating in sports and travel, promoting an active lifestyle.
