2010 Holiday Picture Postmark Available Next Week

Posted on November 23, 2010

Starting December 1st, the  Santa Claus Indiana Post Office  will offer the 2010 special holiday postmark to the public. The "picture postmark" will cancel the postage stamps on holiday mail throughout December again this year.

This small-town post office is the only one in the world with the Santa Claus name and receives over 400,000 pieces of mail in December. About 11,000 letters are sent by children from all over the world in hopes of getting a response from Santa. These letters are answered by "Santa's Elves" at the  Santa Claus Museum  and returned to the children with the holiday postmark. The Santa Claus Post Office has offered a special "picture postmark" every holiday season since 1983.

"The Santa Claus holiday postmark has become the most popular in the nation over the past two decades," says Postmaster Marian Balbach. "Postal patrons worldwide request the picture postmark each year and many customers traditionally drive hundreds of miles to personally obtain the famous cancellation on their holiday mail."

She asks that anyone interested in getting the special cancellation on their holiday mail to follow these guidelines:

- Allow at least a 2-inch by 4-inch space in the stamp area for the picture postmark;

- Apply postage to cards or letters before bringing or mailing them to the post office;

- If you wish to mail Christmas cards to the post office, package them–with postage stamps already on them–in a sturdy envelope or box, and mail to: Postmaster, Santa Claus Station, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998;

- The picture postmark is available on working days between December 1 and 24;

- The picture postmark must be requested by the postal customer;

- To ensure a good postmark imprint, do not enclose large or bulky items in your holiday mail (Ex: reindeer food, snowflakes, glitter, stickers, etc.);

- There is no charge for postmarking; however, there is a limit of 50 picture postmarks (hand cancellations) per person per day.

America's Christmas Hometown: Santa Claus, Indiana will host a celebration of family fun on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the first three weekends of December. Among the holiday traditions and events are a traditional Christmas Dinner with Santa; lighting of America's Hometown Christmas Tree; Rudolph's Holiday Hustle, 5K Run/Walk; "Santa Claus Land of Lights," a 1.2-mile driving journey; Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, America's Christmas Hometown Pageant and much more.

Special discount lodging packages are available throughout Spencer County, Indiana. For more information or a full schedule of Christmas events in the area, visit www.SantaClausInd.org or call the Visitors Bureau at (888) 444-9252.