DANVILLE — The day after Thanksgiving wasn’t busy at the post office, according to Donna Lujajohnson, officer in charge at the Danville Post Office.

People were shopping and not yet thinking about mailing cards and packages.

But starting this week and running until Christmas, she expects the post office to be a bustling place.

“We’re pretty busy,” Lujajohnson said Monday morning. “It’s picked up today.”

More mailing services, however, also are offered on the Internet.

She said even though holiday stamps have been available since October, now is when business picks up and more people start thinking about mailing those holiday wishes and presents.

Also according to the U.S. Postal Service, the surge in military personnel sent to Iraq is contributing to an overall increase in overseas mail delivery by almost 200 percent, and average volume will quadruple during the peak holiday week.

The last recommended date for mail going to the war zone is Dec. 4, but for mail destined to all other international military installations, the deadline is Dec. 19.

Lujajohnson said today is the deadline for space available mail for international mail going to Air/Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) ZIP codes.

This is for military mail flown when there is space available and it’s at a cheaper rate, she said.

All military mail, regardless of destination, is sent by domestic mail rate. International rates do not apply to military mail delivery.

“Mail Call can be the best part of the day for our deployed military service members, especially around the holidays. With more of our young men and women serving overseas, making sure their mail arrives on time is important to all of us,” said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Bashon Mann, in a U.S. Postal Service press release.

The Postal Service is expecting to deliver 20 million pounds of mail to military installations around the world this holiday season. The second week of December should be the busiest week for overseas delivery. Mail to Iraq alone during this period is expected to increase more than 400 percent over the average weekly volume.

All packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations. All military units are assigned an APO or FPO ZIP code and, in many cases, that ZIP code travels with the unit. The Postal Service places APO/FPO mail on special charter flights, commercial airlines and military aircraft to reach armed services members overseas as quickly as possible.

For domestic cards and packages sent by Parcel Post, the most economical service, they should be in the mail by Dec. 15 to reach destinations on time, Lujajohnson said.

The deadline for first-class and Priority holiday mail is Dec. 20 and for express mail it’s Dec. 22.

Lujajohnson said the weekend before Christmas “messes it up” causing the earlier than usual express mail deadline.

She said the busiest holiday mailing day is expected to be Dec. 17, the Monday before Christmas.

More than 275 million cards and letters should be mailed that day across the U.S., more than three times the average daily volume of 82 million. Total mail volume (cards, letters, catalogs, packages, magazines) for the busiest day should approach 1 billion, up from an average daily volume of 703 million pieces.

The busiest mail delivery day is Dec. 19, the Wednesday before Christmas.

Postal Service executives have laid out the national plan to deliver 20 billion cards, letters and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas across the country and around the world.

The task requires more than 200,000 trucks, a 30 percent increase in air cargo transport, 37,000 post offices and 700,000 employees.

“This is one of the most challenging and exciting times of the year for us,” said Pat Donahoe, deputy postmaster general and chief operating officer in a press release. “Whether you’re sending a holiday card to Idaho or a care package to Iraq, our employees across the country are committed to success.”

Delores Killette, vice president and consumer advocate, adds, “In the time it takes you to download a tune or a video for your iPod, you can create your own postage and design unique greeting cards online.

“You can order free, environmentally friendly packaging or find the nearest post office with late hours while you’re watching the late, late show. That’s today’s mail,” she said.

And like Santa, the Postal Service will be delivering mail on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.