Bethlehem may be a tiny village in Wales with a population of just 150, but it is famous for something that has made it a go-to destination for thousands of people every Christmas season for many years. The village offers a unique stamp that adorn people’s Christmas cards, carrying the village’s name alongside wishes and holiday greetings. For 10p, people can get their cards stamped with the Bethlehem postmark, making their greeting unique.
For many years, when the local post office was still open, all cards that were sent from there would have automatically been stamped with the Bethlehem frank. However, after it closed, villagers stepped in to buy and renovate the building to turn it into a community hall. The tradition was revived by residents and a stamp was designed to keep the legacy of Bethlehem alive. The money raised from the stamping service at the village hall goes towards its upkeep.
The Bethlehem stamp has been popular with people outside of the village, even attracting visitors from as far away as Birmingham and the Netherlands. However, due to the pandemic, fewer people are sending Christmas cards as they did before, and the high cost of postage has also deterred many from sending greeting cards. Nonetheless, Royal Mail still estimates delivering about 150 million cards over the holiday period, and the Greetings Card Association estimates that people buy nearly one billion cards.
Even though the tradition of Christmas cards is declining, the Bethlehem postmark remains popular among many people outside the village. The village committee decided against letting go of the tradition, and volunteers have been offering the stamping service every Christmas season since then. Despite the decline, people like Di and Jeremy Bultitude still find value in sending Christmas cards stamped with the Bethlehem frank. They describe it as a special way to show their family and friends that their cards come from them
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