Wherever you live, Christmas — the holiday — is around the corner.
If you're in Central Florida, Christmas — the census-designated place — is down the road, too. To be slightly more exact, it's about 17 miles west of downtown Titusville on State Road 50, in Orange County.
And if you're looking for the spirit of the season, you might just find it here, the only Christmas in the world with a post office and, most likely, a nearby “World’s Largest Gator” attraction.
It's not a bustling area, with an estimated population of 1,146 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. The median income is $30,455. A "For Sale" sign stands in front of the former Christmas Country Craft 'n Christmas store, which closed down earlier this year after more than 15 years in business.
But there's a quiet joy to be found in the simplicity of this tiny Christmas.
Three streets here bear biblical, Christmas-centric names: Bethlehem, Luke and Matthew. Others salute Santa's four-legged team — Comet Street intersects with Cupid Avenue; Antler Street with St. Nicholas Avenue. There’s not a tiny reindeer in sight, but eight or more horses are in a field where Cupid Avenue ends.
At the corner of State Road 50 and Fort Christmas Road, there's a permanent Christmas tree, nativity scene, a concrete Santa and a red wooden sleigh. A sign explains that the tree is "a symbol of love and good will; the Christmas Spirit every day in the year."
The Christmas Grocery and a barber shop are in the same plaza as a shuttered tattoo place.
If you’re into the history of this neck of the Central Florida woods, the well-kept and interesting Fort Christmas Historical Park details the area's roots, dating to the Seminole Indian War in 1837.
And for those who still send in-your-hands cards and packages, no trip to Christmas is wrapped up without a stop at the Christmas Post Office, ZIP code 32709.
It's a compact brick building with a Letters to Santa mailbox in the lobby. There’s a tree, too, near a table and counter full of people gussying up holiday cards with post-office-provided rubber stamps of Santa, wreaths and other holiday greetings. You have to leave your driver's license with a clerk to borrow one of the stampers and an ink pad: People have been known to be quite Grinch-like and steal the stampers.
Wedgefield residents Jan and Anita Gaal, natives of the Netherlands, have shipped cards around the world from Christmas for almost 20 years.
"I get a lot of reaction, like, 'Oh, that is so cool,' " said Anita. "People like it a lot."
They sure do, said Dawn King, postmaster here for four years.
On Dec. 6, King, who lives in Port St. John, and another clerk handled customers at the counter. Two windows; some waiting, especially in December.
King predicts that the busiest day of this season will come Monday the 18th.
On Dec. 4, "we sent out a huge tub of cards," she said, and it will just ratchet up from here through the last mailing day before The Big Day: Saturday, Dec. 23. Last year, about 1,000 pieces of mail went through the post office daily.
"Everyone comes in with a holiday mood ... everybody wants that Christmas postmark," King said.
"It's special."
Lindsey Jordan and her family, Chuluota residents, think so. She and her children stopped by on a recent weekday with about 100 cards, on their second annual junket to the post office.
Ella Grace, 11, Major, 10, and Silas, who's 4, worked an assembly line to get their cards ready, while 9-week-old Hattie watched from a baby carrier near the Letters to Santa mailbox.
"We are excited to stamp our cards and send them back home to our friends and family in Alabama," said Lindsey Jordan, whose husband, Jeremy, was at work and couldn't join in.
"We have friends in Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio ... it's just something fun we can do and show them that we're from Florida."
And it's a nice prelude to what's coming at Christmas — again, the holiday, not the place.
"The kids are looking forward to it, very much; our annual traditions, programs at church, things like that," Jordan said.
Shades of "It's a Wonderful Life,” maybe?
"It's a nice place to be," King said. "The whole town is Christmas-y."
12 Sites of Christmas
If you’re headed Christmas way, consider this 12 Sites of Christmas to-do list.
The Christmas Post Office. It’s at 23580 E. Colonial Drive (State Road 50). Retail hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. Call 407-568-2941.
Walk through history. Make a pioneering afternoon of it at Fort Christmas Historical Park. The popular "Cracker Christmas" celebration is over for 2017, but enjoy the replicas of the fort, homes and school and learn more about how and why Christmas, Florida, got its name.
Scope street names. Chart all the yuletide roadway monikers, from Reindeer Road and Blitzen Avenue to Luke and Matthew streets.
Step inside Swampy. He's billed as the World's Largest Gator. Jungle Adventures, the attraction featuring the 200-foot-long Swampy, is on the north side of State Road 50 just a couple miles east of the post office. OK, he's a concrete critter. But how can you resist having your photo taken hanging from Swampy's jaws, flailing your arms between his teeth? Seeing Swampy is free. And then, you can go on that Jungle Adventure, with wildlife show, swamp cruise and gator feeding; prices vary.
Check out the Christmas Christmas tree. It towers above Santa and a sleigh at the corner of State Road 50 and Fort Christmas Road, which heads north to Fort Christmas Historical Park. Plus, if your mother is with you, have her pretend to kiss the concrete Santa Claus and sing, well, you know the song.
See the nativity scene. It's just a few steps away from the community tree and perfect for a card photo.
Book an airboat trek. You can't miss the signs pointing out opportunities to glide along the St. Johns River, or Google "Christmas airboat rides."
Stop at the Christmas Grocery or have your hair cut. The grocery store is your everyday snack stop, with subs and wings and such. And there's a table out front where locals sit. Strike up a conversation. You can also have your hair cut. Right there in the same plaza.
Explore Orlando Wetlands Park. Birders and wildlife viewers find plenty to love at this unique place. The park is open from sunrise to sunset 365 days a year, at 25155 Wheeler Road. The annual Wetlands Festival is set for Feb. 17, 2018.
Take pictures of seasonal-style markers. Like the Welcome to Christmas sign, or the barber shop sign with a red-and-green-striped candy cane barber pole on it. The C on the Christmas Grocery sign wears a hat.
Take pictures for others. Come December, you'll usually find people standing in front of the post office, by those Christmas signs and at the community tree, taking selfies or pictures of each other. Offer to take the shots for them. And let them borrow your Santa hat.
Cruise by the Christmas Cemetery. It's private, on Fort Christmas Road near the park, but the entrance alone is photo-worthy. Besides, you don't want to stay there anyway, right?
