Holiday stamp

Postage stamps commemorating festivals or holidays

Holiday stamps are a type of postage stamp issued to commemorate a particular religious festival or holiday.

Many nations in the world issue Christmas stamps intended for use on holiday mail.

In 1997 a joint issue was issued by Mexico, who issued one stamp, and the United States, who issued both a 32 cent and a 33 cent denomination. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the defeat of the French Army by Mexican soldiers at the Battle of Puebla though some people believe it is the Mexican day of independence.

Ukraine is among the countries that have issued a stamp commemorating Easter, a Christian holiday.

The United States Postal Service issued a 34 cent stamp on the 1 September 2001 at the annual Islamic Society of North America's convention in Des Plaines, Illinois. It features gold Arabic calligraphy on a lapis background that commemorates two of the most important Muslim festivals: Eid ul Fitr, marking the end of the month long fast of Ramadan and Eid al Adha, at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. During the festival, Muslims wish each other "Eid Mubarak," the phrase featured on the stamp. "Eid Mubarak" translates into English as "blessed festival," and can be paraphrased as "May your religious holiday be blessed." This phrase can be applied to both Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha. This stamp was designed by the Islamic calligrapher Mohammed Zakariya. On 12 August 2011, a new version of the Eid stamp, a "forever" stamp for first class mail, was issued. With a red background, its calligraphy (i. e., text) is distinctly different from the 2001 stamp with a blue background. On the forever stamp, the text in the upper left corner is "2011 USA", and text in the upper right, running vertically, reads "FOREVER". Text running across bottom reads "EID GREETINGS". Pakistan is among the other countries with an Eid stamp. Hanukkah commemorates the revolt led by Judah Maccabee against the government of Antiochus IV in 165 BC. This initial printing produced 103.5 million stamps and in it was re issued in 1999 in a 33 cent value. The Israeli stamp employs the same multi colored menorah design, by American Hannah Smotrich, a graduate of the Yale School of Art. Israel also issued a first day cover as well as a souvenir sheet, which shows both stamps (pictured on left). As a unique feature, this was this first self adhesive stamp in Israel. In 2004, the U. S. issued another Hanukkah stamp depicting a photograph of a dreidel (a spinning toy with four sides), with the word 'Hanukkah' in the background. The dreidel shown was purchased in Jerusalem by an American couple. The stamp was first issued on October 15 in New York. The initial version of the stamp has been reissued; in 2006 it was 39 cents, in 2007, it was 41 cents stamp, and in 2008 it was a 42 cent stamp. In 2013 United States Postal Service issued a new version of Hanukkah stamp which depicted menorah again. The stamp was issued on November 19 in New York.

Many countries issue stamps to celebrate their Independence Day or Republic Day. India celebrates its Independence on August 15, beginning with its first three stamps issued in 1947. Republic Day is celebrated on January 26, commencing with the four stamps issued in 1950. Pakistan celebrates its Independence (Yaum e Azadi) on August 14, beginning with its first recess printed stamps.

Kwanzaa is a non religious African American festival which synthesizes and reinvents traditional African "first fruits" celebrations. The U. S. Postal Service issued the first 32 cent stamp designed by self taught artist Synthia Saint James for Kwanzaa on October 22, 1997. This design was revalued three times to 33 cent, 34 cent and 37 cent in 1999, 2001 and 2002, respectively. A total of 133 million Kwanzaa stamps were produced in 1997. A second Kwanzaa stamp, a 37 cent self adhesive value, was introduced on October 16, 2004, with a new design by Daniel Minter that was intended to convey "balanced formality with a celebratory, festive mood." This stamp has been reissued; the 2006 was 39 cents, the 2007 value was 41 cents, the 2008 was 42 cents.

Israel has issued its "festival" series of stamps every year to commemorate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. In 1948, Israel's first festival stamps were designed by Otte Wallish and depicted LMLK seals stamped onto jars from the time of King Hezekiah (circa 700 BCE). The Rosh Hashanah stamps often display secular and patriotic motifs, such as bread, wine, olives, soldiers, kibbutzniks, Israeli dancing and the national library (1992). Fittingly, many series feature religious motifs, such as curtains for synagogue arks (1999), Hebrew Bible stories (1994), ushpizin of Sukkot (1997), Jewish lifecycle events (1995), and the orders the Mishnah (2006), with Nezikin pictured here.

Several countries have issued love stamps for Saint Valentine's Day, such as; Belgium, France, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Collectors will often try to collect covers from romantically named towns. Perhaps the most well known, servicing more than 200,000 each year around Valentine's Day, is Loveland, USA.

In January 1985 and subsequent Januarys An Post, the Irish Post Office, started issuing love stamps for use on cards and letters for Saint Valentine's Day. The first pair of stamps issued depicted clouds and balloon (22p value) and hearts and flowers (26p value). An Post continues to issue new designs each year.