2011 Holiday Picture Postmark Available Next Week

Posted on November 23, 2011

The  Santa Claus Post Office  will offer the 2011 special holiday postmark to the public starting December 1. The "picture postmark" will cancel the postage stamps on holiday mail throughout December again this year.

This famous 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 children with the holiday postmark. The Santa Claus Post Office has offered the special 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 the first three weekends of December. Events include a traditional Christmas Dinner with Santa; "Santa Claus Land of Lights," a 1.2-mile driving journey through Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort; Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and much more.

For more information about the Santa Claus Christmas Celebration or a schedule of events, call (888) 444-9252 or visit www.SantaClausInd.org/special-events. Also, find Santa Claus, Indiana, on the Visitor Bureau's free app for iPhones and Androids by searching "Holiday World & More!" and on any mobile device at http://m.SantaClausInd.org.

EDITOR: Additional photos available upon request.