Hundreds head to Bethlehem to mail Christmas cards

BETHLEHEM, Md. – Every time December rolls around, a quaint post office in the little town of Bethlehem gets flooded with families willing to go the extra mile to get something no other post office can give.

“I come every year when were mailing out Christmas cards out to get the special stamp they have and then have the postmark say Bethlehem. It’s just a little added touch for everybody,” explains Michael Cirillo, a customer that’s been doing this for fifteen years now.

Just like the three wise man, people follow the Christmas star to get to Bethlehem. Although for some that trip is a little closer than others.

Noble Kelley, of Bethlehem, says, “I’ve talked to a lot of people who receive the cards and they think it’s great so gives me great pleasure to send something to them that they like a lot.”

Placing the special three wise men stamp on each Christmas card is a special tradition, one that keeps bringing hundreds of customers back year after year.

47 ABC spoke to several customers who have been keeping this tradition alive for 10, 20, even 38 years.

It’s a tradition that’s been going on for eighty years now that brings some Christmas joy to those who mail them and receive them.

While also keeping the post office pretty busy this time of the year.

“I mean that’s the whole ticket right there, that’s the whole purpose. You go an extra mile for that little stamp and it means a lot, it really does,” adds Cirillo.

We’re told the post office mails out more letters during the holiday season than the rest of the year combined. Families from as far as Michigan mail their cards into the Bethlehem post office just to get that special stamp.