HOWARD COUNTY, MD — What's more exciting for a child during the holiday season than receiving a personalized letter from Santa straight from the North Pole? Postal officials with the Greetings from the North Pole Post Office program suggest people pop their children's letters in the mail no later than Dec. 7 so the Anchorage, Alaska, postmaster receives them by Dec. 13 and they to earn the "North Pole" postal stamp on a return letter to a child.

"Santa Claus is imaginary? Not as far as your child is concerned — and the Postal Service can help you prove he's real when your child gets a personalized letter from the big guy — complete with a North Pole postmark," said the USPS in a statement.

The USPS offered the following tips for crafting the perfect letter from Santa for your child: