Why A Village With 500 Residents Mails More Than 10,000 Christmas Cards From Its Post Office Every Year

How is it possible that in a village that boasts a population of only about 500 people sends more than 10,000 Christmas cards from its post office every year? Is it because each person in town has 20 friends? Or is it because the town has something special to do with Christmas?

It’s the second reason: As well all know, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the esteemed ringleader of all Santa Claus’ flying crew, ever since that whole foggy night situation. As such, his fame has made the village of Rudolph, WI a popular place when the holidays roll around, reports the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune.

People from all around have mailed more than 10,000 cards that will be mailed on Saturday, from as far away as Santa, just so their holiday cards for loved ones can be stamped by the Rudolph post office and get the special postal marking the post offices issues every year at this time. It features a bright red reindeer and reads, “Rudolph, WI, home of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” in a tradition that started back in 1945.

One woman drove 45 minutes just to get her Christmas cards stamped with the Rudolph ink stamps, saying she and her husband are sending out 100 cards from Rudolph this year. She says her grandkids get a kick out of the mail from Rudolph.

“They just think it’s fun, too — and we do, too,” she said. “And it’s a nice outing.”

The last batch of cards that will be mailed go out Dec. 13, and will be even more festive this year as the U.S. Postal Service has new Rudolph stamps to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the claymation classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

“It’s been very strong, very strong this year. We have issued an awful lot of stamps,” said the Rudolph Postmaster, who admits even she bought more stamps than she thought she would.

“I know I’m sending out a few extra cards because of them.”

As they say, when in Rudolph…

Christmas card season a busy one for Rudolph [Wisconsin Rapids Tribune]