Indiana town of Santa Claus celebrates its namesake in December

Apr 30, 2021, 3 AM

Santa Claus, a small community in Indiana, is continuing its annual tradition of providing a special Christmas cancel.

A pictorial cancellation in the town has been available each December from Santa Claus since 1983.

The postmark this year was designed by Shayann Smith, a senior at Heritage Hills High School in Spencer County.

The illustration shows Santa with snowflakes.

Collectors should leave adequate space for the postmark, because it measures a large 4 inches by 2 inches.

No date appears in the illustration shown here because an interchangeable date is used throughout the run of the postmark, Dec. 1-25.

To request this cancel, send covers to the following address:

SANTA CLAUS Station, 45 N. Kringle Place, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998, Dec. 1-25.

For postmark collectors and mailers, the Christmas season is also an opportunity to obtain postmarks from United States post offices that have names associated with the holiday.

Some of these post offices offer a pictorial cancel, but most do not.

To obtain a holiday town postmark, send stamped, addressed envelopes or cards to the postmaster of the desired town. Include the “-9998” ZIP code extension that identifies it as mail to the postmaster.

Enclose a note requesting the post office’s four-bar handstamp and specifying the date of the postmark you would like. The postmaster might not be able to give you the date requested.

And as always, remember to mail early.

Angels Camp, CA 95222;

Antler, ND 58711; Antlers, OK 74523;

Bell, FL 32619; Bells, TN 38006; Bells, TX 75414; Bell City, LA 70630; Bell City, MO 63735;

Berry, AL 35546; Berry, KY 41003;

Bethlehem, CT 06751; Bethlehem, GA 30620; Bethlehem, IN 47104; Bethlehem, KY 40007; Bethlehem, MD 21609; Bethlehem, NH 03574; Bethlehem, PA 18016; New Bethlehem, PA 16242;

Blessing, TX 77419;

Brilliant, AL 35548; Brilliant, OH 43913;

Chestnut, IL 62518;

Christmas, FL 32709; Christmas Valley, OR 97641;

Conifer, CO 80433;

Evergreen, AL 36401; Evergreen, CO 80439; Evergreen, LA 71333; Evergreen, NC 28438; Evergreen, VA 23939;

Faith, NC 28041; Faith, SD 57626;

Frost, MN 56033; Frost, TX 76641;

Garland, ME 04939; Garland, NC 28441; Garland, NE 68360; Garland, PA 16416; Garland, TX 75040; Garland, UT 84312; Garland City, AR 71839; Fort Garland, CO 81133;

Green, KS 67447; Green, OH 44232;

Holiday, FL 34690; Holliday, MO 65258; Holliday, TX 76366;

Holly, CO 81047; Holly, MI 48442;

Hope, AK 99605; Hope, AR 71801; Hope, ID 83836; Hope, IN 47246; Hope, KS 67451; Hope, ME 04847; Hope, MI 48628; Hope, MN 56046; Hope, ND 58046; Hope, NJ 07844; Hope, NM 88250; Hope, RI 02831;

Ivy, VA 22945;

Joseph, OR 97846; Joseph City, AZ 86032;

Joy, IL 61260;

Lone Pine, CA 93545;

Miracle, KY 40856;

Mount Angel, OR 97362;

Nazareth, KY 40048; Nazareth, MI 49074; Nazareth, PA 18064; Nazareth, TX 79063;

New Hope, AL 35760; New Hope, KY 40052; New Hope, PA 18938; New Hope, VA 24469;

Noel, MO 64854;

North Pole, AK 99705; North Pole, CO 80809 (contract postal unit); North Pole, NY 12997;

North Star, OH 45350; North Star, MI 48862;

Notre Dame, IN 46556;

Orient, IA 50858; Orient, IL 62874; Orient, NY 11957; Orient, OH 43146; Orient, SD 57467; Orient, WA 99160;

Pacific City, OR 97135; Pacific Grove, CA 93950;

Partridge, KS 67566; Partridge, KY 40862;

Pax, WV 25904;

Peace Valley, MO 65788;

Pine, AZ 85544; Pine, CO 80470;

Rudolph, OH 43462; Rudolph, WI 54475;

St. Lucas, IA 52166;

Santa Claus, IN 47579; Santa, ID 83866;

Santa Maria, CA 93454; Santa Maria, TX 78592;

Santee, SC 29142; Santee, CA 92071;

Shepherd, MI 48883; Shepherd, MT 59079; Shepherd, TX 77371;

Snow, OK 74567; Snow Camp, NC 27349; Snowflake, AZ 85937; Snow Hill, MD 21863; Snow Hill, NC 28580; Snow Lake, AR 72379; Snow Shoe, PA 16874; Snowshoe, WV 26209;

Spruce, MI 48762; Spruce Pine, AL 35585; Spruce Pine, NC 28777; White Pine, MI 49971; White Pine, TN 37890;

Star, ID 83669; Star, MS 39167; Star, NC 27356; Star, TX 76880; Star City, AR 71667; Star City, IN 46985; Starlight, PA 18461;

St. Joseph, IL 61873; St. Joseph, LA 71366; St. Joseph, MI 49085; St. Joseph, MN 56374; St. Joseph, MO 64501; St. Joseph, TN 38481;

St. Mary, KY 40063; St. Mary, MO 63673; St. Marys, AK 99658; St. Marys, GA 31558; St. Marys, IA 50241; St. Marys, KS 66536; St. Marys, OH 45885; St. Marys, PA 15857; St. Marys, WV 26170; St. Marys City, MD 20686;

Tranquility, NJ 07879;

Virgin, UT 84779;

Virginville, PA 19564;

Winter, WI 54896; Winters, CA 95694; Winters, TX 79567;

Wiseman, AR 72587.

Instructions for requesting postmarks

For complete instructions for requesting postmarks, click here.