How to Add a Christmas Postmark

Sending and receiving Christmas cards is much beloved tradition, and a wonderful part of the holiday season. How fun is it to add a fun Santa Claus holiday postmark as an extra special touch?When I was researching how to do this, I discovered that there are several U.S. towns that have holiday names, and they will stamp your Christmas cards with their postmark, and send them on to your family & friends. It’s so easy, and free to do!!

We have so many favorite Christmas activities at our house, and we love counting down to Christmas with different activities over the month of December. Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt, giving gifts to our neighbors (Holiday Stovetop Potpourri is amazing!), baking our beloved Christmas recipes, and sending Christmas cards are just a few on our list.

About 10 years ago or so, I discovered that I could send my cards to a post office with a festive name, and they’d mark them with a special holiday postmark. How fun is that? It’s an extra special holiday touch that’s actually very easy to do, and totally free! If you want to try it, I’ve gathered all the info below.

Santa Claus Postmark – Santa Claus, IN
USPS – Post Offices with Christmas Names & Postmarks
More Christmas ideas

Santa Claus Postmark – Santa Claus, IN

One in particular is Santa Claus, Indiana. They even have a competition to each year to design the holiday postmark!

The process is actually pretty easy, you just need to allow a little extra time. All you need to do is enclose all of your stamped and addressed cards in another envelope or box labeled “Christmas re-mailing”, and address it to the postmaster in any of these towns. Allow enough time for postmarking, re-mailing, and delivery.

“The Santa Claus holiday postmark has become the most popular in the nation over the past two decades,” said Postmaster Marian Balbach in 2020. “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.”

2024 Postmaster Joshua Graham says, “The endearing Santa Claus postmark is a long-standing tradition for our town, and it contributes to the charm of the spirit each season…It is exciting and fun to see the unique artwork each year, and it is an honor for this office not only to select an artist’s contribution, but also to provide this service for the public.”

How to Get a Santa Claus Holiday Postmark — *(Image from santaclausind.org )*

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, P.O. Box 9998, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998;
The picture postmark is available on working days between December 2 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.

Here is the 2024 info from Santa Claus, IN post office with all the details:

USPS – Post Offices with Christmas Names & Postmarks

From the Post Office site:

“Interested customers can write to the following Post Offices for postmarks to keep or to share with friends. Enclose a stamped, addressed card or letter in another envelope or box labeled “Christmas re-mailing” and address it to the postmaster of one of the towns listed below. Please allow enough time for postmarking, re-mailing, and delivery.”