The Town of Christmas

Christmas, Florida

Christmas, Florida, is a strip of Highway 50, east of Orlando, with a large post office -- including a special mail slot for Santa -- and a number of local attempts at the theme, such as streets named after Santa's reindeer. It was originally named Fort Christmas -- the name was chosen on Christmas day -- but the town dropped the "Fort" when the post office opened in 1892. The appeal of a letter postmarked from Christmas was apparent even then.

At the intersection of Highway 50 and Fort Christmas Road stands a year-round Christmas tree with a sign: "The permanent Christmas tree at Christmas Florida is the symbol of love and good will; the Christmas Spirit every day in the year." The tree is accompanied by a small, painted concrete Santa Claus statue, an equally small red wood sleigh and reindeer, and a nativity scene.