Rudolph post office prepares special pictorial cancellation to be offered Dec. 10

The Rudolph Post Office is busily preparing for a special Pictorial Cancellation offered on

December 10.

The “Country Christmas Station” Pictorial cancellation will be hand stamped on all Holiday Greeting Card mailed from Rudolph on Dec. 10. This year marks the tenth annual

Country Christmas Cancellation.

“We are already Counting down to the Country Christmas Celebration held the secon Saturday in December each year in Rudolph,” said Postmaster Becky Trzebiatowski in the press release. “Christmas is less than one month away and will be here before you know it. People are already bringing in cards and envelopes to stamp with the “Rudolph – Home of the Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer Stamp. That stamp is available year round upon request, but mainly used at Christmas.”

In addition, she is already receiving priority boxes filled with prepared Christmas cards that need to be cancelled with the special cancellation offered on December 10.

“That day in December is probably the busiest day of the year for the Rudolph Post Office. We really are excited to assist customers who are sending holiday greetings to friends and family everywhere,” Trzebiatowski said. “This is a very special time of year in Rudolph.”

She estimated somewhere around 10,000 cards and letters to be hand cancelled during the Rudolph Country Christmas with another 500 requests coming in from collectors.

In 1945, Postmaster Lillian Blonien of Rudolph, started the local tradition of postmarking holiday greetings with a pictorial cancellation featuring a reindeer design as a Girl Scout project. The tradition has continued every Christmas since, with visitors traveling many miles to have the cancellation applied to their cards and letters.

Blonien was a lifelong resident of Rudolph and served as the postmaster from 1940-1971. She is remembered for her spirited sense of humor, generous heart, and love of community.

Each year, the cancellation is selected from entries submitted by individuals. This year’s design was created by JoAnne Coenen of Rudolph. She will receive a special plaque honoring her achievement during the Country Christmas Festivities on Dec. 3.

The Rudolph Post Office expands window hours beginning Dec. 1 through Dec. 23, said Trzebiatowski.