If you are looking to send any last minute Christmas cards or packages via the United States Postal Service, it is important to keep in mind some nearing deadlines to make sure your mail reaches its destination in time.

To make sure mail arrives by Dec. 24, Dec. 20 is the Postal Service’s recommended mail-by date for First-Class and Priority Mail. For Priority Mail Express, the mail-by date is Dec. 23.

For Priority Mail Express Military Service for a number of AFO/FPO AE ZIPs with the expected delivery date of Dec. 24, parcels should be mailed by Dec. 17.

Mailing parcels can sometimes be expensive if you don’t plan ahead, but thankfully, sites like TrackingAdvice make it easy to find suitable and affordable methods of shipping packages.

For more specific information pertaining to general, military and international shipping, visit the holiday section of the USPS website.

United States Post Offices will be open Wednesday Dec. 24 for Christmas Eve, with most retail location lobbies closing at noon. Post offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25 for Christmas and will resume services Friday, Dec. 26. Revised hours will be posted at individual Post Office locations.

Additionally, many Post Office retail location lobbies will be open until noon on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. The Post Office will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1 with regular services resuming Friday Jan. 2.

Deposit mail into blue collection boxes by noon on Dec. 24 and 31, regardless of the final collection times posted; if the final collection time is already before noon, there will be no change, but if it is earlier, mail may be collected early.

Regular mail delivery on both Dec. 24 and 31 will remain unaffected.

Business customers can check with their respective Bulk Mail Entry Unit for more information regarding holiday operations.