SHIPPING DEADLINES \ For the holidays

Here are some recommended deadlines from the U.S. Postal Service to ensure delivery by Christmas.

For domestic mail:

Dec. 16 — Parcel post packages

Dec. 20 — Priority mail or first-class mail (letters).

Dec. 23 — Express mail

For international mail:

Dec. 4 — First-class mail and priority mail to Africa and South and Central America

Dec. 11 — First-class and priority mail sent to other foreign countries

Dec. 12 — Express mail international to Africa and Central and South America

Dec. 17 — Express mail international to Asia and the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and the Middle East

Dec. 18 — Express mail international to Canada

Dec. 19 — Global express guaranteed mail to Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America and the Middle East

Dec. 22 — Global express guaranteed mail to Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe

Source: U.S. Postal Service/Associated Press