Tired?

Don't stop, keep going!

Postcard sent by Laura (the UK).

Winter Stamps

Belgium

Canada

China

Plum Blossoms Snowing in Winter

France

Germany

The Netherlands

Sweden

The United Kingdom

The USA

Royal Postbox

Only two minutes far from home: The right place to post the letters to the Magi...

Sunday Stamps | Kwanzaa

2009

According to the official site of Kwanzaa:

Kwanzaa is an African American an pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana Studies. Kwanzaa, a seven-day cultural festival, begins December 26 and ends January 1. It joins communitarian values and practices of Continental African and African American culture.

During the holiday, families and communities organize activities around the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles): Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). Participants also celebrate with feasts (karamu), music, dance, poetry, narratives and end the holiday with a day dedicated to reflection and recommitment to The Seven Principles and other central cultural values.

It sounds like a great festival! USPS issued the first Kwanzaa stamp in 1997, and has issued 14 stamps since then (of which I have got these three).

2018

This is a post for Sunday Stamps. The theme chosen for today is Other Holidays.

2016

A Global Letter

I reused an illustrated envelope (from the Philatelic Service) to send a letter to Heleen (the Netherlands). The Mafalda stamp (top right) exists as a real stamp. But it has no value impressed on the envelope. 

I looked for stamps featuring the globe to match it.

This letter took two months to reach its destination. 

And it got a couple of postmarks on both sides!

Different Choices for Christmas Stamps

Botswana

Belgium

This stamp (The Sun) belongs to the 2019 series Geometrics in Nature. I mistook it for a Christmas stamps when I got it on an envelope!

Canada

Guyana

Christmas Greetings

I like to see the different styles of the Christmas our friends send every year...

The Mystic Lamb, Angles Playing Music
Jan & Hubert Van Eyck, 1432

Illustration by Molly Brett

Slow Travelling

It seems that Father Christmas isn't in a rush this year...

I just hope he doesn't get lost!

 

Mail sent by Heleen (the Netherlands). Have you noticed the snail?

Collaged Christmas Cards

Two handmade Christmas collages sent by Fabienne (France) and Imma (PC). Full of details!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Illustration: Gorana Guiboud-Ribaud

Postcard sent by Nadine (Germany), through the Postcrossing site.