Most kids check the envelope before they open the letter. A real stamp, their own name in handwriting, and a postmark that says North Pole are what make a letter from Santa believable. Here is how that postmark works and what it means for when you order.
What is the North Pole postmark?
A postmark is the ink mark the Postal Service puts over the stamp to show where and when a letter entered the mail. Each holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service runs a Letters from Santa program that marks children's letters with a special North Pole postmark before sending them on. To a child, it is proof the letter really came from Santa's workshop.
How a Letter From Santa gets it
- You order by December 1. You choose a story, add your child's name, town and best friend, and read the finished letter before you pay.
- We print and check everything. The letter, Santa's Official Nice List and the Christmas Eve route map are printed, proofread by a real person, sealed in an envelope addressed to your child, and stamped with First-Class postage.
- We send it to the Postal Service in batches. Our final batch goes out right after December 1.
- Postal workers apply the North Pole postmark and mail the envelope on to your child, in time for Christmas.
The dates to remember
- December 1: last day to order for the official North Pole postmark.
- December 2 to December 12: letters are mailed straight from our workshop. They still arrive before Christmas, but without the North Pole postmark.
- After December 12: it is too late for Christmas delivery.
The order form always tells you which kind of letter yours will be, so there is no guessing.
Why the cutoff is so early
The Postal Service needs letters to reach the program in early December so they can be postmarked and delivered before Christmas Eve. Holiday mail volume is at its peak, so we build in time rather than cutting it close.
Tips for the mailbox moment
- Let your child find it. Leave it in the mailbox instead of handing it over, so the discovery is theirs.
- Point out the postmark. Ask where they think the letter came from, and let them spot the words North Pole.
- Keep the envelope. The postmarked envelope is worth saving in the memory box along with the letter.
You'll see the finished letter, with your child's name filled in, before you add it to your cart.