Everything Santa in Chemnitz

Klaus Höhne

If you want to meet the "real" Father Christmas, you have to travel far. Not all the way to the North Pole, but as far as Lapland. The Finnish town of Rovaniemi prides itself on being the official home of Knecht Rubrecht. However, this is only half the truth, as the busy man also lives or was born in Chemnitz. Today we have named him "Maker of the Day". Merry Christmas to you all!

Father Christmas has many faces. In Chemnitz, Klaus Höhne from Siegmar embodies Knecht Ruprecht. Alternating with his cousin, he takes to the stage every afternoon at 5pm sharp during the Christmas market and entertains visitors of all ages with his performances. You come from a "Father Christmas" family. Is your involvement more of a vocation?
Klaus Höhne: (laughs) Not really. My cousin Hans Lange has brought the figure of Santa Claus to life at the Chemnitz Christmas market for over 20 years. Together with a seven-person ensemble, which still performs today under the name "Langes Theater", he choreographed fairy tales. When he celebrated his 80th birthday, he asked me to take over a few of the 26 performances he has during the Christmas season. That's how I became Father Christmas.

Klaus Höhne, alias Father Christmas, took over the role completely three years ago. He shares the role of Knecht Ruprecht with another cousin. "26 appearances is quite a lot. I couldn't do it alone."

How does an audience with Father Christmas on the market square work?
I talk to the children, bring two, sometimes three of them on stage and ask if they've been good this year. Beforehand, of course, I and my elves have observed the chosen ones and made enquiries. (laughs) Then we give them a small gift for their courage in daring to go to Father Christmas.

Do you even rehearse your performances in advance?
Before every Christmas market, we rent a weekend in a guesthouse in Johanngeorgenstadt together with the "Langes Theater" ensemble. This allows the team to familiarise themselves with the performances.

"There has to be a bit of drama in Father Christmas," says the 71-year-old with a smile, describing his role, which he performs with great dedication and humour. Each performance lasts 45 minutes, including the fairy tale. A time limit with which the retired maths and physics teacher is very familiar.

Weren't maths and physics teachers the ones you were afraid of at school?
(laughs) No, that's no longer the case.

How did Erich Kästner put it so beautifully in his "Interview with Father Christmas"? "...your job is actually a kind of itinerant seasonal trade, isn't it? You have a lot of work in December. Everything is crammed into a few weeks. You could call it a rush job. And now ..." - "Hm?" - "And now I'd love to know what you do for the rest of the year!"
I'm a full-time pensioner.

Are the children actually scared when they have to go on stage to see Father Christmas?
It varies. Depending on how they are prepared for the meeting. Harsh sentences like "You're probably scared of Father Christmas" are of course taboo with me (laughs). The teacher is still active in this respect. Basically, Father Christmas, i.e. me, is a good being that the children don't need to be afraid of. Unless they were bad. Then I am often used as a threat. Father Christmas is already a person of respect for the children. You can tell.

Is this image a good one?
For the parents who use it, yes. Along the lines of: "Watch out my friend, otherwise Father Christmas won't come". It's ingrained. There must be someone in the family you're afraid of if it's no longer mum or dad. (laughs)

But Klaus Höhne, sorry - Father Christmas - doesn't just have warm words for his young charges on stage. They follow his steps and gestures with wide eyes. A certain talent for entertainment is also part of it. Sometimes he even has to smile into his glued-on beard when tongue twisters such as "Waldpostbriefträger" come out of his mouth. When the well-known Christmas carol "In der Weihnachtsbäckerei" is played on stage, everyone sings along. "And that's what Christmas is all about. To strengthen the feeling of togetherness."

Does Father Christmas come home with his own five grandchildren?
Of course, dressing up obliges. Last year, my four-year-old apparently recognised me. "Grandad, that was you!" A slightly threatening voice with the words "Allow me to confuse you with Father Christmas" and this year's visit to one of my "colleagues" then "cleared things up". Grandad finally stood in front of the stage. He was speechless.

Do the children make unusual wishes for Christmas? A pony or a racing car, for example?
No, the respect is probably too great for that.

His pedagogical training comes in handy for Father Christmas with all those beating little hearts on stage. "Today I had a two-year-old. You take him in your arms and elicit a few words from him. You can't ask him to write poetry."

Looking at the weather, Santa can't be squeamish?
It's limited on stage. Otherwise it's a bit uncomfortable.

Will there be a white Christmas this year?
(laughs). I've already spoken to Mrs Holle. She was kind of irritated. There was a girl there who wasn't really going along. It must have been the au pair. Her name was Pechmarie.

To make up with Mrs Holle, the children then sing "Snowflakes, White Skirts" with Father Christmas in front of the stage. Maybe it will help...

With all the stress, how does Father Christmas celebrate the festival of love?
Strictly as a family. My dad turned 103 and my mum 95, so we had many Christmases together. I myself have two children and five grandchildren.

And what is there to eat?
My wife and I try to maintain the old Christmas tradition of the Erzgebirge, "Neinerlaa" (nine dishes), in small quantities. We go so far as to stick a penny on the back of the plate. Traditionally, we eat a piece of fish on Christmas Eve and a goose on Christmas Day, which is never enough when the whole family is present.

What does Knecht Ruprecht think of his Chemnitz Christmas market?
Top. I also told Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig at the opening: These beautifully decorated huts with the huge fir tree that my sleigh heads for almost every day. We practically can't get lost. The historical part adds something special to the Christmas market.

Our standard question - also for Father Christmas: Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
You have to encourage them a little. Grumbling is part of human nature. But we can only be happy about the Christmas market in Chemnitz. I think the people of Chemnitz can be proud of their city.