Couriers Pedaling Across Lapland to Reach Santa Claus
In an incredible feat of endurance and holiday spirit, three postal workers from St. Nikolaus, Germany, have embarked on a 3,000-kilometer bicycle journey to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland. The trio, consisting of Simone Nehring, Artur Hajduk, and Ralf Schuettler, aim to deliver Christmas wish lists addressed to Santa Claus, as part of a cherished holiday tradition[1][2].
The journey, which spans across Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, is expected to take approximately two to three weeks. The postal workers will be riding two yellow postal bicycles and one mountain bike, without electric motors, as they navigate their way through Northern Europe[1].
The destination, Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, is a winter-themed park near the Arctic Circle and an official postal hub tied closely to Finnish national postal services for managing letters sent to Santa Claus[3]. This year, St. Nikolaus, the Saarland town famous for its Christmas-themed name, has given the cyclists his own wish list to deliver, hoping for a reply from Santa Claus in Finland[1][2].
The postal workers are no strangers to long-distance cycling, having met while competing for the national postal cycling team. They have undertaken other challenging tours together and are now aiming to cover 200 to 250 kilometers each day on their journey[1].
In addition to the physical challenge, the journey also serves as a charitable mission. The team collects donations for the "Bunter Kreis Hagen" association, which supports families with seriously ill children[1].
Along the way, the team will visit postal branches in Bremen and Hamburg to collect more wish lists from children[1]. A support vehicle will accompany them to transport clothing, tools, and spare parts[1].
The Saarland Nikolaus is delighted with his unusual summer task. Last winter, his volunteer team at the Nikolaus post office answered over 33,000 children's letters from around the world[1]. The team's first stop is Ruesselsheim[1].
This initiative is part of a volunteer program by the German postal service, where these workers respond to over 30,000 letters annually sent by children worldwide to the St. Nikolaus post office[1][2]. The journey's cause centers on maintaining this holiday tradition of letter-writing and spreading joy by physically connecting the symbolic Christmas towns of Germany with Santa's village in Finland[4].
After delivering the wish lists, the postal workers plan to continue their journey to the North Cape, adding another 700 kilometers to their trip[1][2]. This holiday adventure is sure to be an unforgettable experience for the postal workers and the children whose wishes they carry.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4]
The trio, Simone Nehring, Artur Hajduk, and Ralf Schuettler, are not only embarking on a two to three-week bicycle journey but also integrating their passion for sports into their mission. Their 3,000-kilometer journey, through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, is not just a travel experience but a unique way to maintain the cherished holiday tradition of delivering Christmas wish lists to Santa Claus.
