Berlin's Santa Wars

[Kellanved]

A year ago, Berlin was in the grip of a Santa shortage. But this has all suddenly changed, with Ernest Gill saying that Father Christmases are now flooding the German capital's job market and the press talking of the city being hit by a 'Santa war.'

The good news this Yuletide season is that Berlin's Santa shortage is over. The bad news, for thousands of wannabe young Kris Kringles, is that there are now too many Santas in the German capital's job market.
There are even indications in the city's tabloid press of 'Santa Wars' that could leave children toyless at Christmas. But analysts predict that, by the time Christmas Day dawns, good old Saint Nick will have saved the day as he always has.

Berlin being Berlin, there is an official employment agency specialising in ensuring that a professional Father Christmas, complete with red suit and beard, stops at the right house at the right time on Christmas Eve - leaving nothing to chance.

He even has an official ID card. After all, you wouldn't want just any man wearing a red suit and white beard and bearing a bag full of presents entering your home at Christmas, now would you? Of course not. Such things require lots of thorough Prussian organisation.

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