Originally named Lloyd's Hills in 1774, the little White Mountain town of Bethlehem NH was incorporated with it's current name on the last Christmas Day of the 18th century. With that in mind, it's rather fitting that today's Bethlehem has a myriad of holiday festivities throughout the winter months. With two cut-your own Christmas tree farms, craft fairs, tree-lighting ceremonies and sleigh rides, the tiny community comes alive during the holiday season.
Perhaps most unique of the holiday
traditions offered by Bethlehem is the hand-cancelling of Christmas cards. This rural Post Office estimates it handles over 56,000 Christmas cards from all over the world each year.
If you would like to add more flair to your Christmas greetings, there are two ways to go about it; bring the cards yourself or send them in. Multiple hand cancellation stamps are available for your use in the Post Office's main lobby, shortly after Thanksgiving each year.
If you are unable to bring your cards to Bethlehem yourself, simply address, seal and plasce postage stamps on the envelopes containing your greetings and place them in a larger envelope. Send this envelope to the attention of "Christmas Re-Mailing", Bethlehem Post Office, Bethlehem, NH 03574. To ensure delivery in time for Christmas, your items should be received no later than December 15th.