THE MERRIEST MAILMAN. Just three of postal carrier Jason Beran's seasonal outfits. (Submitted photos)

Whether through countless Christmas cards or eagerly awaited presents, U.S. Postal Service carriers deliver plenty of joy this time of year. Carrier Jason Beran lifts spirits in another way as well: By donning a rotating (and ever-growing) collection of colorful seasonal costumes, he ensures it’s a holly jolly Christmas along his downtown Eau Claire mail route.

“I love spreading Christmas joy and putting smiles on people’s faces,” says Jason, who has been with the U.S. Postal Service since 2017 and began wearing holiday outfits about four years back.

This year, Jason began donning first-class festive gear every work day beginning the week after Thanksgiving. Each day it was something different: A blue hat and a skiing Santa sweater one day, a green Buddy the Elf get-up on another. Many outfits are accessorized with Christmas-themed knee socks, festive hats, and even beard ornaments and face paint.

On his last workday before Christmas – Friday, Dec. 22 – Jason went into full Santa mode, complete with a fur-trimmed suit, rosy cheeks, and a white-tinted beard.

“Jason’s festive ensembles truly embody the essence of ‘the holiday spirit,’ ” says Brenna Lindsey-Schrupp, development and scholarship coordinator for the Eau Claire Community Foundation, which is on Jason’s mail route. “The holidays can be such a wonderful time of year, but if you don’t have people to share it with, they can be a bit of a downer. However, Jason’s festive attire manages to brighten the days of everyone he encounters, spreading smiles and making the season a touch more joyful!”

This year, Brenna and her colleagues at the Eau Claire Community Foundation office on South Barstow Street began snapping photos to document Jason’s outrageous outfits, images they decided to share with Volume One to help spread Christmas cheer to the whole Chippewa Valley.

Brenna’s personal favorite costume is new to the mailman’s collection: “It is a skirt/sweater combination that gives the illusion that Jason is being carried around on Santa’s shoulders,” he says. “Plus, the idea of Jason walking around in a skirt all day gives us an extra laugh.”

If you’re in danger of having a blue Christmas, check out this gallery of photos of Eau Claire’s merriest mailman. Happy holidays!