Community continues decades-long tradition of sending Christmas Cards from Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM, Md.- In a small, tucked away town in Maryland, a bright idea was born.

“My grandfather asked Mr. Brodus if he would make a star so we could hang it across the road, and Mr. Brodus made it; my grandfather put the lights on it and it’s been hanging ever since,” said Bethlehem resident, Sharon Carol-Carls.

From November to December the star lights up the night. Whenever she drives past it, Carol-Carls thinks about the tradition her own grandfather sparked, decades ago.

“To me, it’s something to be proud of,” Carol-Carls said.

And as the story goes, if you follow the star, it’ll lead you to Bethlehem. Right in Bethlehem, Maryland, the local post office is continuing its own tradition.

“I just think it’s really cool to send a Christmas card from Bethlehem,” said Debby Wise.

For years, the post office has opened its doors to community members, to have their card postmarked from Bethlehem.

“I had a couple people go like, ‘Oh, that’s really neat. I saw that it was post marked from Bethlehem. How’d you manage that?’ And I was like, ‘I live not even 10 mins from Bethlehem, Maryland,” said Heidi Wright.

And for two years, Wright has been coming to the post office to stamp the three wise men on each of her Christmas cards. She says it’s just a small gesture that spreads holiday cheer to her loved ones.

“It’s just kind of cool to give a little extra special cheer to everyone. Like, ‘Hey, look, there’s the three wisemen and they’re stamped with Bethlehem,” Wright said.