Christmas post office in Christkindl: 75 years of magical tradition

Christmas post office in Christkindl: 75 years of magical tradition

Steyr. A few days ago, the Christmas post office in Christkindl was opened with a lot of joy. The 75th season has now started, supported by the long tradition, which goes back to 1946. Originally launched by a US soldier that was inspired after a visit to the pilgrimage church in the region, the post office has developed into a central point for the Christmas correspondence over the years.

As early as 1950, the opportunity was offered for the first time to provide letters with a special stamp. Johanna Zeilinger, who worked in the Mesner kitchen, stamped 42,000 programs at the time. In comparison, the statistics show for the 2023/24 season that around 1.1 million letters were processed. Walter Oblin, the post-general director, emphasized at the opening how important it is to continue this tradition that connects people from all over the world.

a striking Christmas offer

The post office initially found a new home in the inn Zur Beautiful View, today's Hotel Christkindlwirt. This inn looks back on a 243-year history and has been operated by the Baumgartner family for 93 years. Georg Baumgartner, who runs the fourth generation hotel, is happy about this famous tradition: "We are pleased that we have the most famous Christmas post office in the world with us."

The governor of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer, was also present at the festive opening. He explained that the letter to the Christ child is a beautiful childhood memory for many people and that tradition is still valued today. "This letter stands for a peaceful and joyful time of common ground and has lost nothing in the course of the decades," continued Stelzer.

This year there are also four new Christmas brands, which were published in a total circulation of 2.5 million pieces. The brands each cost 95 cents and show motifs such as the organ crib of the parish church of Wagrain, a Christmas tree, a Christmas wreath and the Traismaurer nativity play.

A special service: If you cannot travel personally after Christkindl, you have the opportunity to frank your Christmas mail with the additional brand "About Postam. Christkindl". This enables the letters to the post office that will stamp them there directly. It is important that the letters are not thrown into the public mailbox, but are given up directly in the post office or among partners.

The opening times of the post office this season are as follows:

• until November 29: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• from December 2 to 23: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• on December 24th and 31st: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• from December 27th to 30th and from 2nd to January 6th: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

These celebrations and innovations promise a festive atmosphere and invite everyone to be part of this wonderful tradition.