Get Ready Bethlehem Residents, Here Comes The Christmas Card Mailers

Bethlehem is a town with a population of over 3,400 residents just Northwest of Watertown, Southbury, and Woodbury in Litchfield County. During the holiday season, the roads in this normally very quiet town will be packed with people waiting to mail their Christmas cards to get their special stamp. Get ready Bethlehem, they're coming.

If you mail your Christmas cards from the United States Post Office in Bethlehem, Connecticut, each card will receive a special stamped postmark from 'Christmas Town'. No, it's not Santa riding the Painted Pony, but there are almost a hundred different stamps. According to bethlehemct.org, the tradition was started by Bethlehem Post Master Earl Johnson in 1938. Johnson designed the first rubber stamp and started stamping the Christmas cards that came through the facility. Right now there are 85 stamps available to choose from that have been designed by local artists, children, and Bethlehem postal employees.

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During the month of December, the Bethlehem Post Office, which is located at 34 East Street in town, truly transforms into the busiest Post Office in all of Connecticut. You could also mail your parcel of Christmas Cards with a self-addressed-stamped envelope, the Bethlehem Post Office offers that service at no charge.

Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, Candy Canes, Snowman, one-horse-open sleighs, a snowball, and gingerbread cookies are just some of the designs that I remember receiving over the years. Growing up my Great Aunt lived in Bethlehem, and it was always a treat to get her Christmas card with those special stamps. I wonder if the line will reach Dollar General this year?