Letter Writers Alliance

Pen Pal Swap Closing Reminder

Hello folks! This is a gentle reminder that our pen pal swap closes at the end of this year. December 31st is the last day for members to request a match. It is also the last day to become an "official" numbered member of the Alliance. On January 1st, 2020, we will no longer accept new members. If this is shocking news to you, my apologies. Please read our post about closing for all the details and a handy timeline. And, hey, don't wait til the 31st to be a member AND request a pal because we attempt to have a healthy relationship with the internet and we don't monitor our email on weekends or holidays. Cool? Cool.

Holiday Historical Favorites

In case you didn't notice, I have been blogging every day of December. I figured it'd be a nice send off as the blog will go mostly dormant after the first of the year. I'm dusting off some older posts and re-sharing them, as well as sprinkling in that headiest of offerings, "new content". Here are three of my favorite historical holiday postings from across the years.

Chimney Post

The History of Letters to Father Christmas

50 Years of Holiday Postage Stamps

Were there any favorite blog postings I did that you remember? Share a link to memory lane in the comments!

 

 

Operation Santa

Every year, thousands are sent to Santa and the North Pole each year. The mission of the U.S.P.S. Operation Santa® program is to answer these letters. I've complained about the obtuseness of bureaucracy surrounding the Letter to Santa volunteer program in the past. This year is feeling different. This year, it really does seem like the U.S.P.S. has made it easy to "be an elf" and adopt a child's letter. Operation Santa has a clear website and is easy to use. I like that there's both individual and team options. Also, if you know someone that needs help writing to Santa, there's a nice kit for that. I'm looking forward to participating this year. Won't you join me?

Scout Editions Stamp Advent Calendar

I couldn't help myself and bought basically one of each stamp design on sale from Scout Editions. The advent calendar is pretty much all I want from my festive holiday design. Also, when my order shipped, it came with the most adorable surprise stamp gift which you can check out on my Instagram. Truly, they are detail oriented and I love it!

National Postal Museum’s Annual Holiday Card Workshop

This Saturday (today!) and Sunday (tomorrow!) are the free holiday card making workshop days at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum. The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. The museum provides all the supplies- you just bring the mail magic! They'll have patterned papers, postage and rubber stamps, gems and other 3-D embellishments, special cut-out scissors, washi tape, stickers, markers of every color and more! If that doesn't sound like a party to you, then why are you even here? The workshop takes place in the museum’s lower-level Atrium which has had its halls decked out in the holiday spirit as well. If you're in the D.C. area, I highly recommend this free and family friendly fun time! I wish I were there!

 

Holiday Letter Social in Toronto

Join the Toronto Letter Writers Society at Toronto's First Post Office on Sunday, December 8th for an afternoon of letters to Santa and other epistolary fun. Also, feel free to add any other upcoming socials in the comments. Sharing is caring and all that! If you're looking for socials in your area, I find that the Directory of Letter Writing Societies is an excellent resource.

Holiday Postmarks

If you are interested in getting a lovely finish on your cards with a hand-stamped cancellation, all you really need is time. The post office recommends sending your re-mailings no later than December 7th; so get on it! You have to prepare your mailings and then send them all of for their special markings, and then they get mailed out from the post office or crazy mail-obsessed person you sent them too. Only then do they start the journey to their final destination. 

Here's how to do it. If you design or add mail art to your envelopes, make sure to leave an empty space of at least three and a half inches to the left of the postage stamp. You should also affix your stamps about a quarter inch from the top and right edge of your envelope. This will allow for the best cancellation for your collection. Just pack up your covers inside another envelope (or box) with your cards to the address you want your postmark from. Then you wait. And hopefully, you end up having sent out some super special mail.

For a North Pole Postmark, send to:

NORTH POLE POSTMARK
POSTMASTER
4141 POSTMARK DR
ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998

There are also a plethora of postmark cities that are holiday-appropriate. You can send mail to the postmasters at the following ZIPs for cancellation and re-mailing as well. Enclose stamped cards or letters addressed to yourself or others and put them into another envelope or box labeled to "Christmas Postmark" and send on to one of these options:

Angels Camp, CA 95222	Berry, AL 35546	Bethlehem, CT 06751
Bethlehem, KY 4000	Bethlehem, MD 21609	Bethlehem, NH 03574
Bethlehem, PA 18016	Deer Park, AL 36529	Evergreen, AL 36401
Faith, SD 57626	Garland, NE 68360	Garland, NC 28441
Garland, PA 16416	Garland, TX 75040	Garland, UT 84312
Holly, CO 81047	Holly, MI 48442	Hope, AK 99605
Hope, AR 71801	Hope, ID 83836	Hope, KS 67451
Hope, MN 56046	Hope, NM 88250	Hope, ND 58046
Joseph, OR 97846	Joseph City, AZ 86032	Joy, IL 61260
Nazareth, KY 40048	Nazareth, PA 18064	Nazareth, TX 79063
Nazareth MI 49074	Noel, MO 64854	Partridge, KS 67566
Partridge, KY 40862	Pine Hill, AL 36769	Saint Joseph, IL 61873
Saint Joseph, MI 49085	Saint Joseph, TN 38481	Saint Mary, KY 40063
Saint Mary’s, KS 66536	Santa, ID 83866	Santa Claus, IN 47579
Shepherd, MT 59079	Spruce Pine, AL 35546	Snowflake, AZ 85937
Snowville, UT 84336	Spruce, MI 48762	Star, TX 76880

L.W.A. Shop Deadlines

Here is your official notice for order deadlines for on-time gifting delivery. If you are interested in a custom item, like a Corner Address Stamp, that order needs to be placed no later than this Friday, December 6th. For regular products, please let us know what you desire to find in your stocking by next Friday, December 13th. I will certainly fill orders after that time, I just can't guarantee they'll reach your door for on-time gifting. Of course, we will do our best by you to help you celebrate as many postally-pleasing ways as possible.

P.S. This is my favorite Christmas stamp issued by the U.S.P.S.

 

International Mailing Holiday Deadlines

Links for our major member mail centers deadlines for the holidays. If you don't see your postal system here, please add a link to their deadlines in the comments!

Royal Mail

New Zealand Post

Australia Post

Japan Post

DHL (hard to find one specifically for Deutsche Post)

 

P.S. Image from the Instagram of Paul Farnsworth.

More Love Letters : 12 Days of Letter Writing

If you're looking for a meaningful postal connection beyond just your annual holiday cards, I highly recommend getting involved with More Love Letter's 12 Days of Letter Writing. Their's is a project we at L.W.A.H.Q. wholeheartedly support and champion at any time of year, but we felt like this project in particular was a good highlight of the spirit of the season. They have selected twelve people in need of support and are posting an address a day. From December 2 - 13, they'll share a new letter request each morning. You'll have the day to write to someone who needs more love, encouragement, and light. Write as many letters as you want! I find their Instagram page to be the easiest way to find out who to write. Our love goes out to all the letter writers and all the letter readers.