Deadlines Approaching for Mailing Holiday Greeting Cards, Shipping Gifts

Families are spread all over the country—and the world—which means long distance phone calls, holiday cards and gifts sent by mail. But after you've bought cards and wrapped gifts for those folks you won't be seeing, when is the deadline to post them so they will get to their destination in time for the holidays?

Do it now. Here are a few suggestions and ‘send by’ dates from the U.S. Postal Service to get your gifts delivered on time and in one piece:

Packing tips from the USPS:

• Double-check addresses & write legibly
• Shake boxes to make sure they’re well packed
• Priority Mail is fast for last minute gifts
• Express Mail is even faster

Check Patch's directory for places around town to mail your parcels.

Holiday Dates for Domestic Mail

Calculated for December 25, 2012.

Domestic Mail Class/Product

Dates

First-Class Mail® Service

Dec. 20

Priority Mail® Service

Dec. 21

Express Mail® Service

Dec. 22

Parcel Post® Service

Dec. 14

Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship

Dec. 19

Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Drop Ship

Dec. 21

Holiday Dates for International Mail

Destination

Global Express Guaranteed® Service

Express Mail® Service

Priority Mail® Service

First-Class Mail®

International Service

Africa

Dec. 19

Dec. 11

Dec. 3

Dec. 3

Asia / Pacific Rim

Dec. 18

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Australia / New Zealand

Dec. 18

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Canada

Dec. 20

Dec. 17

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Caribbean

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Central & South America

Dec. 19

Dec. 11

Dec. 3

Dec. 3

Mexico

Dec. 20

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Europe

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Middle East

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10