As the holiday season approaches, the Concord Post office is “primed and ready” for timely gift delivery, postmaster William McCarthy said — but he had some advice to make the experience smoother.

“The earlier you send it, the better,” McCarthy said in a written statement. “We encourage everyone to send their holiday mail and packages well in advance to ensure they reach their destinations on time.”

The United States Postal Service’s recommended send-by dates for expected holiday delivery (within the continental U.S.) are as follows:

• For USPS Ground Advantage and First Class Mail service, send by December 18.

• For Priority Mail service, send by December 19.

• For Priority Mail Express Service, send by December 21.

For a complete list of recommended holiday mailing and shipping dates, visit usps.com.

— Christine M. Quirk