“Father Christmas in Heaven”: while they were excavating buildings in Strasbourg “a few days before Christmas”, archaeologists were surprised to discover a still sealed letter written by a child to Father Christmas in the 1930s. had never been posted.
“If this letter does not reach its addressee in time… what an incredible coincidence to discover it a few days before Christmas!” indicates on its Facebook page Archéologie Alsace, a public body that carries out scientific and heritage missions. The find took place during excavations “last week” in mills in Strasbourg and the neighboring town of Illkirch-Graffenstaden.
The archaeologists then “came across many archival documents dating from the 1930s”, all “battered by mold and mice”: family photos, postcards, death notices, business cards, lunch invitations and even more. spa menus.
Among this mass of heterogeneous documents, a letter, “the envelope of which was still sealed,” specifies Archéologie Alsace. The organization publishes several photos of this letter addressed to “Father Christmas in heaven” that the young author / e assures to love with “all (his) heart”. And who insists on a point: “I want to be good to please Mum and Dad”.
The letter, written in large handwriting in blue ink, is adorned with a color drawing showing a Saint Nicholas leaning over three children in a wooden chest. The gifts claimed? “A bicycle” and a “small carousel”. “Embrace for me the little Jesus”, still intimate this letter written almost 90 years ago and whose discovery has the airs of a Christmas tale. “Genealogical research and transfer to future archives,” concludes the Archéologie Alsace post.
