BETHLEHEM & NAZARETH — Across the country, many Americans prepare to celebrate the holidays. But in Bethlehem and Nazareth, the holidays have a greater significance to those celebrating its Christian traditions.

To commemorate the seasonal connection, each Post Office has made pictorial postmarks available for mailers that want the towns’ names on their letters and card. There is no cost to request the postmark. Only items bearing uncanceled postage stamps at the applicable First-Class Mail rate are eligible for postmarking.

In addition, the Bethlehem Post Office and Nazareth Post Office will be offering additional philatelic collectors’ items this year, including cachet envelopes (pictured above) and stamped artwork. The cachet envelopes pay tribute to the towns’ histories, and especially Bethlehem’s 275th anniversary.

Postal items are available at the Bethlehem and Nazareth Post Offices during regular business hours as well as at the following special events:

• Friday, Dec. 9 – Nazareth Post Office, 9 North Main Street – special sale from 2 to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – Nazareth to Bethlehem Christmas Peace Pilgrimage. Postal presence at the parade Christ United Church of Christ in Bethlehem.
• Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Martin Guitar Holiday Open House, 510 Sycamore Street, Nazareth - from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 12 to Tuesday, Dec. 20 – visit the “Big Blue Collection Box” at the corner of Broad and Wood Streets in Bethlehem. The lighted, holiday mini-Post Office will be selling holiday stamps and collectors’ items. It will be staffed by a postal employee between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, weather permitting. (GREAT VISUAL)

Collectors and out of town requests for the postmark will be processed for 30 days at the Nazareth Post Office, 9 N. Main Street, Nazareth, PA 18064-9998 and at the Bethlehem Post Office, 535 Wood Street, Bethlehem, PA 18016-9998.

The Postal Service does not receive tax dollars for operating expenses; it relies entirely on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. 

Be sure to follow us on Facebook (US Postal Service) and Twitter (@USPS) for holiday help throughout the season!

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