Reading time: 7 minThere was a lot of hustle and bustle in the elves’ workshop. Santa Claus and his elves only had a few days left to get everything ready for Christmas.
On the workbenches, they were screwing, planing, sanding, and painting in the most beautiful colors. Nutcrackers, colorful spinning tops, rocking horses, toy cars, tractors, and doll beds were being crafted here with great care.
“How are you getting on, dear elves?” a deep voice suddenly rang out in the workshop. All the elves turned around immediately and beamed when they saw Santa Claus.
“Good! We’ve worked through almost all the wish lists. All that’s missing now are the wooden trains and various board games,” reported one elf proudly.
“Very good work, my dears!” said Santa Claus, nodding contentedly as he looked at some of the finished toys on the shelves in the workshop.
“If that’s the case, then nothing stands in the way of our punctual departure!” said Santa Claus proudly. All the elves clapped their hands.
Although they had worked tirelessly over the past few months on the children’s many wish lists and gift requests, every year they looked forward to the moment when the packed sleigh took off on time and the children would open their lovingly crafted gifts under the glowing Christmas trees in the evening.
“Oh, and before I forget,” Santa Claus muttered thoughtfully, tugging at his long white beard. “Please remember to fill the gift bag for the animals in the forest. As always, I will bring them joy with my sleigh!”
No sooner said than done. In no time at all, some elves scurried into the large pantry of the elf workshop. It was stocked with tons of deliciously fragrant cookies, gingerbread, stollen, chocolate rings, and dominoes made from the most delicious marzipan and the finest chocolate.
They would all end up on the children’s plates on Christmas Eve and bring the scent of Christmas into the families’ homes. At the back of the pantry were huge crates filled to the brim with delicious, juicy apples, carrots, beets, and hundreds of nuts.
As Santa Claus had instructed them, the elves immediately began filling small bags for the animals and carefully stowing them on the side of the sleigh.
This way, Santa Claus could make a detour to the fields and meadows on his way to the towns and villages to bring joy to the animals at Christmas.
On Christmas morning, the time had finally come. Large snowflakes slowly drifted from the sky and landed gently on the snow-covered ground. All the elves gathered around the sleigh, wrapped up warm in their coats and gloves.
They stroked all the reindeer once more, made sure they had eaten and drunk enough, and wished them a successful and magical journey.
“Where’s Santa Claus?” asked one of the elves, a little nervously. But just as he was about to pull his pocket watch out of his coat, he saw him.
“Ho ho ho!” everyone heard him call. “Elves, reindeer—let’s go!” There was anticipation in his voice.
The elves darted around the sleigh one last time, checking with a practiced eye that all the presents were safely stowed away, and then gave Santa Claus the signal to depart.
At that very moment, the sleigh lifted silently off the ground and disappeared high up into the clear starry sky with a glittering and sparkling trail of stars.
While the children played happily in their living rooms, made music, or helped prepare the delicious Christmas dinner, a very special silence fell over the forest.
Every year on Christmas Eve, the animals gathered together at the most beautiful fir tree in the forest and waited for the arrival of Santa’s sleigh. The snow lay softly on the dense fir branches and covered the ground as if it were a thick layer of the finest powdered sugar.
That evening, the animals shared their supplies with each other and told each other the most beautiful stories from the winter season, as they did every year.
Then the young deer had an idea: “Dear animals. Every year, Santa Claus comes to us in the forest with his sleigh and gives us what we love most: nuts for the squirrels, beets for the deer and roe deer, apples for the birds and wild boars. We all get something we like. But what does Santa Claus actually get?”
At first, no one said anything, but then all the other animals agreed: “Let’s make Santa Claus happy and give him a present too!”
The animals were thrilled. They collected pine branches, red berries, Christmas roses, and many other beautiful things they found in the forest.
Together, they tied them into a bushy, festive wreath for Santa’s sleigh.
“He’ll love it!” cried the deer proudly as the animals admired their work.
With the remaining items, they began to decorate the large fir tree. Red berries, shiny horseshoes, dried apple slices, and orange slices made the fir tree shine with a wonderful glow.
As Santa Claus flew over the forest in his sleigh, he spotted the glowing fir tree and the lovingly woven wreath. He landed gently and was warmly welcomed by the animals.
“This is for you, dear Santa Claus,” said the deer, pointing to the wreath. Santa Claus was touched, for he greatly appreciated the animals’ kind gesture.
With a broad smile, he placed the wreath on his sleigh and said goodbye: “You have given me great joy – thank you very much, dear friends!”
With warmth in his heart, Santa Claus flew away, ready to give all the children a wonderful Christmas.
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