From Xaver to Nikolaus – seven days in pictures

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A saleswoman from Baden-Württemberg was named Germany’s most beautiful woman aged over 50 on Saturday, in the “Miss 50plus” pageant. and won a modelling contract.

On Friday morning, children across the country woke up to shoes full of sweets and treats if they were good, and stones if they were bad. St Nikolaus paid a visit before Christmas – but the day before was much scarier, as the Krampus came to town.

As the week progressed the weather got wilder – hurricane Xaver hit the North Sea and Baltic coasts affecting the weather across Germany. Trains and planes ground to a halt, while parts of Hamburg were plunged underwater.

Over in Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle was given a personal tour around the protests in Kiev by the Klitschko boxer brothers.

CLICK HERE for The Local's pictures of the week