KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A west Michigan post office is back again this year with their annual Christmas card project, and this year they're expecting an increase due to the pandemic.
A star rising over the nativity scene is the stamp people will get this year if they bring their cards to Nazareth Post Office to get canceled.
The postmaster said in the first two days, they already received around 2,800 cards and are expecting a lot more.
"Every year as a collector, I will get a Nazareth cancellation with a Christmas stamp that the post office puts out. I will add that to my collection," said Paul Matyas, a stamp collector and the treasurer for the Kalamazoo Stamp Club.
The #Nazareth Post Office has started their annual special Christmas card cancellation.
— Lauren Kummer (@LaurenKummerTV) December 3, 2020
One volunteer says it’s a tradition for families, and he has been collecting stamps with his dad and brothers since he was a kid. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/PcICJFpG5a
It's the 35th year the Nazareth Post Office is holding their annual special Christmas card cancellation.
Matyas said it is a tradition for many families.
"We get collectors from around the world, around the United States and even Canada. In part, they will send letters or envelopes to us with the stamp on it, and they will request that a cancellation be placed on it. Some of them even request that the cancellation be dated for maybe Christmas Eve or Christmas Day," said Matyas.
The postmaster for the Nazareth Post Office said last year they received around 30,000 cards. This year, she believes it'll be a lot more because families can't see each other.
"I’m thinking 35,000 to 40,000. I mean it was as high as 55,000 back in 1985 but that has dropped a little bit. I think though due to the virus, people are going to do more Christmas cards this year," said Nazareth Post Office's Postmaster Terri Sootsman.
While it started locally, Sootsman said they receive Christmas cards from other cities and even countries from people who want their stamp canceled.
"We are the only one in our area that does it. Other cities in America do it that are named for example ‘Christmas’. There is one up in Michigan that is called ‘Christmas’ and other cities that have a Christmas type name for their city," said Sootsman.
Nazareth Post Office says in the first two days they’ve already received around 2,800 Christmas cards.
— Lauren Kummer (@LaurenKummerTV) December 3, 2020
Last year they received around 30,000 cards, and this year they’re expecting to see around 40,000 due to the pandemic preventing families from getting together. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/UAVY7JcY5F
If you would like your Christmas cards canceled with the Nazareth stamp, you can bring them directly to the Nazareth Post Office.
You can also mail your already stamped and addressed cards to the post office in a large envelope with a request inside asking for them to be canceled until December 23.
Their address is: 5073 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI, 49048.
