Christmas tree splendor in Heiligenstadt: fir trees in the heights!

Christmas tree splendor in Heiligenstadt: fir trees in the heights!

In Heiligenstadt there is anticipation for the most contemplative time of the year. The first Christmas trees were put up on Monday and will illuminate the city festively. The market square now shines with an impressive twelve meter high Nordmann fir. In addition, other magnificent Nordmann firs, six and eight meters high, as well as an eight-meter-high blue spruce adorn the lime tree avenue, the baroque garden and the station forecourt. All trees are the result of generous donations as they have simply grown too large on their donors' properties. In this way, the city not only creates a festive atmosphere, but also a pleasant atmosphere in the community, as [thueringer- Allgemeine.de](https://www.thueringer- Allgemeine.de/lokales/eichsfeld/article410418622/news-fuer-das-eichsfeld.html) reports.

But the festive season is not just a reason for joy. There are also more serious topics to discuss in Heiligenstadt. The Eichsfeld district is struggling with a significant shortage of living space. According to the Federal Association of German Building Materials Trade, around 3,200 apartments are currently missing, while 2,160 of these apartments have been empty for over a year. The forecasts are alarming: around 570 new apartments will have to be built every year over the next five years to meet demand. However, in the first half of 2023, only 212 building permits were issued in the district, which is unlikely to ease the situation. Matthias Günther, chief economist at the Pestel Institute, is therefore calling for affordable construction money and fewer bureaucratic hurdles for housing construction in order to change this situation.

Celebrations and support

Caritas in Heiligenstadt has an important offer for those mourning in the region. They have been offering bereavement support for over 20 years and have created a bereavement café, a space for exchange over coffee and cake. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 12th, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the parish hall of the St. Marien provost, Lindenallee 42. No registrations are required here and volunteer grief counselors are available. This initiative is a valuable offer for anyone looking for support in difficult times.

The economy, however, is looking up: Thuringia's trade offices reported a 4.9% increase in business registrations from January to September 2025, which describes the dynamics of entrepreneurial life in the region. In Eichsfeld in particular, 444 businesses were registered, with 380 new businesses being founded. However, on the other hand, there were also 410 cancellations, indicating that the challenges remain significant for many entrepreneurs.

Specialist training and safety instructions

Gerode Monastery is offering an interesting training course for educators from November 14th to 16th: “BenefitYoga in everyday educational life”. This event is designed to teach yoga skills to children aged five to eleven, with the aim of promoting children's movement development and strengthening their resilience. A good time to think about and implement new approaches to teaching.

Finally, an important note: The German Pension Insurance Central Germany warns against fake letters from VSG Consumer-Service-Gesellschaft Hamburg mbH that offer a supposed additional pension and call for registration by telephone. These letters do not come from the German pension insurance and are aimed at collecting personal data. Citizens should be extremely careful here so as not to fall into the trap of fraudsters.

As a small addition for the cold season, we would also like to remind you of the advantages of space heaters. These small devices are a quick and cost-effective way to heat specific areas in your own home. Whether in the living room or on the covered patio, it is important to choose the right type of space heater depending on the size of the room and heat needs. The different types, such as radiant heaters for small rooms or convection heaters for larger ones, are tailored to meet individual heating needs. Safety is also a big issue here and devices should undergo regular safety checks to avoid accidents, as also noted by nbcnews.com.