Seasonal Forever® Stamps Brighten Holiday Mail
The U.S. Postal Service® is ready for the holidays with 14 new seasonal Forever Stamps designed to dress up the special greetings sent to friends and loved ones this year.
The stamps include festive designs to adorn cards and letters, honoring the diverse ways in which Americans celebrate the holidays.
Get all the details on the different types of holiday Forever Stamps below:
2016 Forever Stamps
Eid and Diwali Forever Stamps (#EIDStamps; #Diwali)
The Eid Greetings Forever Stamp recognizes the two most important festivals — or eids — in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The Postal Service has issued stamps to commemorate these two Islamic holidays since 2001. “As one of the nation’s oldest public service institutions, the Postal Service considers it a tremendous honor to celebrate the diversity of this great nation through our commemorative stamps,” said Detroit Postmaster Derron Bray, who dedicated the stamp this year. “The Eid Greetings stamp exemplifies the events and cultures that make America unique in the world of history.”
On Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Muslims wish each other Eidukum mubarak, the phrase shown in Islamic calligraphy on the stamp, evoking centuries of tradition. The phrase translates literally as “May your Eid be bountiful (or blessed),” a phrase that can be applied to both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Commemorating the joyous festival of Diwali, the Postal Service released a stamp design featuring a lit traditional diya oil lamp sitting on a sparkling gold background. The Forever Stamp was released in October at the Indian Embassy in New York City.
Also known as Deepavali, Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Spanning five days each autumn, it is considered by some to be the start of the New Year. Diwali is also an important festival in several other religions. Buddhists honor ancient Indian Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism. Jains commemorate the teacher Mahavira’s attainment of liberation from the cycle of life and death. Sikhs celebrate the freeing of guru Hargobind from captivity. Hindus light the diyas with hopes that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, will visit their homes.
Kwanzaa Forever Stamps (#KwanzaaStamps)
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Kwanzaa holiday, USPS continues its tradition celebrating Kwanzaa with a vibrant new stamp design affirming the spiritual and material abundance of life.
Kwanzaa, an annual non-religious holiday taking place over seven days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, brings family, community and culture together for many African Americans. “Kwanzaa celebrations focus on the importance of family, community and culture, and reflect some of the core values of African culture,” said U.S. Postal Service Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Government Relations Officer Ronald Stroman.
USPS introduced the first Kwanzaa stamp in 1996 by artist Synthia Saint James. Saint James created the artwork on this year’s stamp to symbolize the abundance of African harvest celebrations.
Madonna and Child: National Gallery of Art, Widener Collection
Madonna and Nativity Forever Stamps (#ChristmasStamps; #NativityStamps)
In October, USPS dedicated a Christmas stamp featuring the Florentine Madonna and Child from a 15th-century tempera-on-panel painting at the National Gallery of Art, Widener Collection in Washington DC.
The image shows Mary holding the infant Jesus with a floral background. “With the holidays right around the corner, this stamp, based on a beautiful portrait as part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection, is perfect for extending Christmas greetings to family, friends and loved ones,” said U.S. Postal Service Capital Metro Area Vice President of Operations Linda Malone.
The Nativity Forever Stamp was issued earlier this month, featuring an image of the Holy Family silhouetted against a dawn sky. The scene features a color palette of simple shades of blue and white highlighted by deep shadows.
Artists through the centuries have celebrated the Nativity in painting and sculpture. Today, Nativity scenes remain the centerpieces of many church and family devotions during the Christmas season.
“Today we honor one of the most symbolic images in the world. An image that for Christians from all walks of life celebrates the story of the Nativity,” said U.S. Postal Service Corporate Communications Vice President Janice Walker. “This beautiful stamp includes a brilliant star that stands out in both its illustration and in its meaning of Christmas.”
Hanukkah Forever Stamps (#HanukkahStamps)
The U.S. Postal Service’s new Hanukkah Forever Stamp, released on November 1, features a warm, elegant illustration of a holiday menorah in the window of a home. The eight nights and days of Hanukkah begin on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. In 2016, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 24.
“The Hanukkah stamp we’re dedicating today honors a religious observance that is more than 2,000 years old — and how appropriate that the word itself — Hanukkah — means ‘dedication’ in Hebrew,” said U.S. Postal Service Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President David Williams at the October stamp dedication. “Starting today, this beautiful image of remembrance, light and love will travel on letters and packages to millions of households and businesses throughout America and around the world.”
Hanukkah is a time for gatherings of family and friends with feasting, games and other activities. After the lighting of the candles, there may be singing and a gift exchange.
Holiday Windows Forever Stamps (#HolidayStamps)
A booklet of festive Holiday Windows Forever Stamps was dedicated in October as one of the major releases of the 2016 holiday mailing season. The contemporary stamps reflect the simple pleasures of the wintry holiday season and feature a candle, a wreath, a star and a lighted tree. The stamps show the tranquil calm of a winter evening after the snow has fallen and the sun has set. Whether you enjoy viewing a peaceful scene from a cozy spot indoors or feeling a chill on your face outdoors, these brief moments make this a special time of year.
Featuring snowy winter nights, these stamps demonstrate how windows everywhere play a role in the celebration of the holidays. We can delight in the snow when we’re inside, and can share our warmth and happiness with the outside world through simple panes of glass.
“It’s our hope that these inviting stamps will help customers connect with the festive spirit of the season,” Postal Service Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Joseph Corbett noted.
Conveying both the joyful and the reverent spirit of the holiday season, these elegant stamps show the ways we observe traditions and spread cheer.
Songbirds in Snow Forever Stamps (#SongbirdsinSnow)
Last August, the Postal Service celebrated four birds that brighten cold winter days with the Songbirds in Snow Forever Stamps at the 2016 American Philatelic Society’s Stamp show in Portland, OR.
The stamps feature the golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa), the cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) and the red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), depicting each bird perched on a snow-covered branch.
“The Postal Service has a long tradition of putting birds on stamps — to celebrate and raise awareness of these amazing creatures,” said USPS Sales and Customer Relations Senior Vice President Cliff Rucker, at the dedication.
Each stamp is sure to add some winter joy to letters and cards during the year’s coldest months, especially in regions farther north.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Forever Stamps and more….
Still available online in limited quantities are a variety of stamps from previous years to adorn your holiday mailings including:
2015: A Charlie Brown Christmas
2014: Christmas Magi
2013: Holy Family
2013: Virgin and Child (by Jan Gossaert from the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art)
The USPS Store also has a wide variety of wonderful philatelic items for gifts. Stamp-related images are available for fans and collectors alike as beautiful framed art, cups, clothing, tote bags, and upcycled messenger bags. Gift shopping for the special person in your life is easy on USPS.com.
Forever® Stamps are always equal to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price. However you choose to celebrate the holiday and share that with your loved ones, USPS has a stamp to suit your needs.
Send Holiday Messages with Augmented Reality
Using the USPS® augmented reality app, scan the blue shield on any Priority Mail® shipping box to share season’s greetings with friends and family.
You can also scan the logo on the side of any USPS® Collection Box to experience unique animation perfect for the season.
Remember to Mail and Ship Early*
It’s easier than ever to send holiday cheer. Simply go to USPS.com to:
Calculate a price
Pay for postage,
Print a shipping label
Track packages
Schedule a pickup
Order free USPS supplies
Buy stamps
Request mailing services
Provide delivery instructions and much more.
You can also check out our holiday commercials and a variety of videos on USPS TV for tips on packing and shipping to make your package preparations easier.
*Actual delivery date may vary and is based on origin, destination, Post Office facility acceptance time, and other conditions.
Priority Mail Express Shipments mailed December 22 through December 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment was not delivered, or delivery was not attempted, within two (2) business days.
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