Nov. 15, 2011
Christmas Island Postmistress Hughena MacKinnon is busy gearing up her tiny post office for the anticipated influx of holiday mail set to arrive from all over the world—all in search of a very special postmark.
"It really strikes you how special this really is and how much people appreciate what you do," says postmistress MacKinnon speaking of the Christmas Island postmark, which she stamps personally on about 1,000 letters a day—2,000 on busiest days—during the peak holiday timeframe. "For us to receive letters from as far as Japan looking for our postmark—it makes you stop and think how small the world really is and how we are all connected in one way or another."
For over 16 years now at this time of year, the Christmas Island post office gets almost as busy as Santa's workshop. The amount of mail received at the office jumps almost 1,000% during the holidays. The thousands of letters come from around the world from collectors and holiday enthusiasts anxious to get the official postmark from Christmas Island.
For those interested in having holiday cards postmarked, please address and place the correct postage on the actual greeting card, insert card into a larger envelope and send to:
Christmas Island Post Office
8499 GRAND NARROWS HWY
CHRISTMAS ISLAND NS B1T 1A0
