Christkind post office opens for Christmas letters

Germany’s Christkind post office has now opened for 2025 and is waiting to receive letters from children across the world. Here’s how you can send one:

Christkind post office opens for business

The Christkind post office in Engelskirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, is now receiving letters from children across the world about their Christmas wishes. Children should address their letters to “An das Christkind, 51777 Engelskirchen” and remember their pleases and thank yous.

Since the tradition started in 1985, the Christkind has received over three million letters from over 60 countries, and around 130.000 letters during Christmas 2024 alone. The Christkind has got her work cut out for her this year too, so families should make sure their letters arrive by December 20 if they want to receive a reply. 

Wait, but who is the Christkind anyway?

The Christkind is one of Germany’s many Christmas characters, alongside Santa Claus (der Weihnachtsmann) or St. Nicholas (Sankt Nikolaus).

We’ve got Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation to thank for the Christkind. Uncomfortable with the tradition of Nikolaus, since the idolisation of saints was a Catholic custom, Luther decided to introduce a new figure to re-centre the German Christmas tradition on the child whose birth it celebrated.

Like Santa Claus, the Christkind is elusive and hides away from children - all the more reason to take advantage of your direct line to her in 2025. If you’d rather take up your wishes with the Weihnachtsmann or St. Nicholas, check out our article on how to send a letter to Santa in Germany.