2012 US Holy Family (Christmas) Stamp - 10/10/2012 Wash., DC

Someone on VSC has posted this image of a possible 2012 "religious" themed Christmas Stamp that is apparently shown only on the USPS's Beyond the Perf's Twitter iphone App. It has yet to be confirmed as an actual issue, as it is not yet posted elsewhere on Beyond the Perf.

If this comes to fruition, it certainly looks like a nice design:

It's an ugly bugger and I hope they go another way with it. more Christmas colors would fair a bit better with the masses methinks.

That's a nice-enough design, but I will be surprised if it comes to fruition.

Surprised?! It just did "come to fruition"...

CONFIRMED! It was just published in Beyond the Perf today ... 12/09/2011 (along with the announcement of the Arizona Statehood and New Mexico Statehood issues):

http://beyondtheperf.com/2012-previ...-holy-family

Hmmm, I must admit I quite like the stamp,
shown (unusually) just as an ordinary couple,
embarking on a rather extradordinary life.

A scene used on stamps and other artworks before and welcomed to be able to see it again.

I have liked the extended Christian nativity story since when I was young. Stories that have so many behind the scenes mentions of another time and a way of looking at things.

Here are Christmas stamps from Canada in 2000, nativity paintings by different artists. The 95c one is entitled 'Flight Into Egypt', depicting the journey by Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus into Egypt to escape the slaughter ordered by King Herod of every male child of under 2 years of age, a precaution to ensure his remaining King and being supplanted by the foretold New King.


See also Wikipedia 'Nativity'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativi...Jesus_in_art

One aspect of hope for a better world.

Like rod222, I like the design. It's something refreshingly new and different. To tell the truth, I'm rather tired of the "Madonna y Bambino" images that USPS usually trucks out. After a while unfortunately, those renaissance paintings all start looking alike. I particularly enjoyed rod222's imagery of the family embarking on the journey of a lifetime. This stamp does seems to suggest a far grander story than the Madonna and Child stamps do. P.S. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all!

An old saying goes;
Red in the morning, sailors take warning,
Red at night, sailors delight.

Meaning red clouds in the morning presage stormy weather that day and red clouds at night presage clear weather or clear sailing.

The stamp's shadows suggest nightfall with the star showing, and is there not a future sailor in the story?

I'll go along with "confirmed" but I'll know it came to fruition when I buy one in my local post office.

I have not read about respective artists/designers, but it bears a striking resemblance to this recent book:



Maybe its just me, and I'll acknowledge that there are only so many ways you can depict certain themes, but still, this is pretty darn similar.

A refreshing change from the usual Madonna and Child stamps we get every year. That design is getting old really fast.

Beyond the Perf has just announced today that the 2012 Holy Family (Christmas) Stamp will be issued on October 11, 2012 in New York City (same date/location as the Santa with Sleigh Stamp):

http://beyondtheperf.com/stamp-rele.../holy-family

[edit] To adjust incorrect link previously posted.

I am with Rod222 and Puzzler. This is really what Christmas is all about!

I wonder if the USPS was trying to play it safe with these Madonna and Child stamps. They could always claim it's just a piece of art.

But ultimately Christmas has 2 origins. One is the religious holiday Christians celebrate, and the other is the pagan holiday where gifts are exchanged and trees are decorated that Christian Christmas was layered on top of. If they continue to issue non-religious stamps for Christmas (Santa, Ornaments, etc), I see no reason why we can't have a nice religious one also. I look forward to future stamps.

Though this is the USPS.... How much longer until we have a Nativity Scene souvenir sheet with and without die cuts?

I like the design and is very emotive. Christmasy colors might give a more cheerful appearance but as many artists seek to portray a certain feeling in those who view their work, I see lots of things in this stamp.
1. The donkey is optional since in the travel to and from Bethlehem, the Bible never mentions one, so we have tradition. The image is definitely leaving Bethlehem since the baby is being held by Mary.
2. The red sky would most appropriately be morning rather than evening if the flight to Egypt is in the artist's mind. Joseph was warned in a dream at night to leave to avoid Jesus' being killed. Here we have danger and a fulfillment of prophecy. Evening is possible as representation of safety of arriving in Egypt.
3. The star with it's cross shaped rays signify the ultimate purpose for the birth of Jesus. Here we have a sacrifice for humankind's redemption.
4. The name of the holiday contains "Christ" which is the Greek word "Kristos" which means Messiah. This emphasizes the Jewish origin of, and prophecies concerning Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew)

The 'season' was originally celebrating the Winter Solstice, the birth of the Sun. Anyone ever celebrate Saturnalia in a Pagan temple?