Missouri town ‘stamped’ on Christmas cards from around the world

NOEL, Mo. — Once a year, one southwest Missouri town changes its name. During the holidays, the McDonald County town of Noel becomes Noël.

At the center of this "Christmas City” you'll find the post office, and with it the tradition of stamping festive postmarks on the envelopes of cards and letters.

"You know what, It was a postmaster years ago, that realized Noël was French for Merry Christmas, and so he started that tradition and it was near the depression during the 30's, and he thought it would be a great way to cheer people up and get people excited about the holidays, and you know what, we've been doing it ever since,” said USPS Strategic Communication Specialist, Mark Inglett.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the post office receives more than 50,000 cards from all over the world. Each envelope receives four stamps: A red wreath, a green Christmas tree, and a red and blue sign bearing the city's name, Noël.

"We'll get boxes, open them up and they're full of Christmas cards, they have to have the postage on it, this is just a pictorial cancellation, but we'll put those on those letters, cards, postcards, things like that and send them out all over the country,” said Inglett.

It's a big job requiring a lot of help.

"We could not do it without our volunteers, they're what keeps us going and that is what I love about this community," said Noël Postmaster, Patricia Coggin.

Once the cards are stamped, post office employees place pins in a map of the U.S., marking the destination of each Christmas greeting.

"We enjoy doing it. It's a blast,” said Coggin.

Postal employees say this Christmas tradition is just as popular today as it was when it began nearly 100 years ago.

"We've got people that came here as children, that are now grandparents bringing their own grandchildren and things like that. It's just an amazing tradition and we're really proud to be a part of it,” said Inglett.

To get cards stamped with Christmas greetings from Noël, just send them to the Noel Post Office at 318 Main Street, Noel, MO 64854. Post office workers say the sooner you send them in, the better chance they will arrive before the holiday.