The Santa Claus, Indiana post office recently revealed it's 2009 picture postmark.  Each year the picture postmark is designed by one local high school art student as part of an annual contest.  This year's winner is Abby Wilmes of Heritage Hills High School.

This special holiday postmark is available only December 1st thru 24th and will be retired, never to be used again.  Many postal patrons traditionally drive hundreds of miles to personally hand cancel their holiday mail with the unique picture postmark.  The Santa Claus postmaster expects 500,000 pieces of mail to be processed in December alone.  This is more than all other months combined.  

The unique picture postmark has been a tradition each holiday season since 1983.  The Santa Claus, Indiana post office is the only one in the world with the Santa Claus namesake.