by Lena, age 8, asks the Weihnachtsmann do you visit children in person, instead of sneaking in?, about the Spree River, and why Berlin was divided by a wall
Dear Weihnachtsmann,
My name is Lena and I am 8 years old. I live in Berlin, Germany, where my opa still points out a line of bricks in the street that used to be the Berlin Wall, right on our way to the Christmas market.
First, do you visit children in person, instead of sneaking in?
Second, a geography question: what river runs through Berlin?
Third, a school question about my country: why was Berlin divided by a wall for so many years?
I left you zimtsterne and tea.
Love, Lena, age 8, Berlin, Germany, Berlin, Germany
From the Desk of Weihnachtsmann
Dear Lena, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do you visit children in person, instead of sneaking in?
Quite often, yes, especially at smaller gatherings, where I enjoy greeting children directly rather than only leaving gifts unseen.
What river runs through Berlin?
The Spree River winds through the middle of Berlin, past many of its most historic landmarks, and its bridges strung with lights make for a lovely, glowing path to follow as the sleigh comes into the city.
Why was Berlin divided by a wall for so many years?
After the Second World War, Germany was divided between different governing powers, and in 1961 a wall was built right through the middle of Berlin, splitting the city into East and West for nearly thirty years as a powerful symbol of the wider Cold War. The wall finally came down in 1989, reuniting the city.
Frohe Weihnachten, Lena.
Ho ho ho, Weihnachtsmann
