National Thank a Mailman Day

National Thank a Mail Carrier Day or Thank a Mailman Day is celebrated every year on the 4th of February to remind us that someone makes sure mail gets delivered 6 days a week 52 weeks a year. This day is a timely acknowledgment of the importance of mail carriers in our daily lives. Take time out of our day to thank the mailer who is responsible for delivering the message to us.

History of National Thank a Mailman Day

The history of National Thank a Mailman Day is as old as the history of the post, and that could very well be longer than you think. The first concept of mail was recorded in Persia, or at least the first concept of a practically codified postal system.

King Cyrus the Great went to great lengths to ensure that mail reached the nooks and crannies of his Kingdom, and worked with neighboring countries to ensure that mail passed and the system reached the farthest. The process involved building roads, attracting guards, and major diplomatic negotiations, but took a long time. The quote from the James Farley Post Office is actually a reinterpretation of a quote by Herodotus of Greece in the 5th century BC.

It didn't take long to determine the focus of that creed in the statement. National Thank a Mailman Day reminds you to show your appreciation for someone continuing an idea that has existed since BC.

10 fun facts about the USPS (United States Postal Service)

• The Postal Service was established in 1775. Benjamin Franklin served as the first Postmaster General.
• Can you read this? The post office has a special unit that specializes in deciphering messy handwriting. Employees at the Remote Encryption Center in Salt Lake City, Utah are responsible for deciphering jumbled printed addresses.
• The National Register of Historic Places lists more than 1,400 Postal Service buildings.
• The Postal Service has no official motto. Although often confused with the USPS motto, "Neither the snow, nor the rain, nor the heat, nor the gloom of the night cause these commuters to quickly complete their scheduled laps" is derived from a book.
• Pony Express was opening from April 3, 1860 to October 26, 1861. Despite what many people believe, it was never an official division of the United States Postal Service. Before being hired, racers must swear biblically not to curse, fight, or mistreat their animals.
• The most likely ZIP for street delivery is Cathedral Station, N.Y. with 45,742 possible destinations.
• General Electric in Schenectady has one of the easiest ZIP Codes to remember in the US, 12345!
• The longest rural mail delivery route runs daily in Phillipsburg, KS. Every day, the carrier travels 185.5 miles to deliver mail to 228 mailboxes.
• Hindsdale, NH post office is the oldest post office in the country. It has its headquartered since 1816.
• The United States Postal Service processes and sends 187.8 million pieces of First Class mail each day.

How to celebrate National Thank a Mailman Day

The best way is simply to meet them at the mailbox and send them a warm thank you. If you know their preferences, you can give them a cold drink or a hot cup of tea, or just some snacks to take with you on the go. Remember, they are the ones bringing you good and bad news, but don't think about that last part, there's no point in shooting the messenger.