The surprising one

At first glance, this card is extremely conventional, motif "election poster smiles in front of a Christmas tree".

Many politicians send such greetings.

Friederike Haupt

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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Is that unimaginative, or believing that you are the best idea voters have ever had?

In the case of Nico Tippelt, 55, neither.

The Zwickau liberal shows another side inside his card.

The pre-printed signature "Your Nico" indicates the private individual that you approach on winding paths.

A QR code (“look here urgently, listen sooner”, is written enticingly underneath) leads to a YouTube video showing Tippelt in the Parliamentary Society on the Steinway wing.

The studied pianist (concert exam at the Dresden University of Music) can never ignore it without playing briefly.

This time there are two songs that are particularly close to his heart: "Are the lights on fire", one of the most famous Christmas carols in the GDR - "particularly nice prelude", says Tippelt expertly - and "Last Christmas".

If you want to listen: xmas.NicoTippeltMdB.de.

The Christian

Katrin Göring-Eckardt, 56, Vice President of the Bundestag, is a self-confessed Christian.

She studied theology, is involved in the Protestant church and describes herself as "pious".

The fact that she is also green may confuse those for whom the two do not go together.

In any case, Göring-Eckardt consistently opted for a Christmas card that shows an angel.

"The small painting is by Nadiia from Odessa, who worked in my office over the summer," she says.

The power of the people in Ukraine is expressed hopefully and comfortingly in the picture.

The politician prefaced her Christmas greetings with a message from the letter to the Galathians: “You are called to freedom”.

This is on an insert, without which the card can also be sent on other occasions.

This way no remaining Christmas cards end up in the trash.

Seen in this way, the card is like the Christmas tree: evergreen.

The Conservatives

Philipp Amthor, 30, sends a Christmas card that could have existed a hundred years ago.

Printed on handmade paper, motif: Christmas tree in front of the Brandenburg Gate, the top of the pine proudly raised instead of being sawn off by activists.

Amthor also sticks to the style on the inside of the card: The comprehensive greeting (“Blessed Christmas and all the best for the turn of the year and good health as well as happiness and joy in the New Year 2023!”) he adds personal words with the fountain pen, greetings like “ with sincere sympathy".

You can talk about this card like you would about Amthor himself. Old-fashioned, some would say, classic others.

She's definitely conservative.

This makes her stand out among all the colourful, visually stunning, daring and witty ones.

According to his spokesman, Amthor sent out 500 to 600 cards this year, plus letters in the constituency.

A lot of work, yes, but it's worth it.

Such greetings cannot replace an email.