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Canadian Eid Stamps
6-28-2016
Since 2001 US Postal Services has been issuing "Eid Stamps" with a fanfare with press releases and official "unveilling" of the stamp thus attracting and capturin worldwide attention. It demonstrates a gesture of acceptance and solidarity with the American Muslims as well as Muslims around the globe.
Each year after year when the Canadian Muslims see this we wonder when Canada Post could ever do this. Why can't Canada Post issue an Eid, Ramadan, Hannukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Diwali, stamps like Easter or Christmas stamps.
The reality is Canada Post does issue an Eid Stamp, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, as well as Diwali and Hanukkah, alongside with Christmas. The only difference is it does not promote the service with same pomp and pageantry as the US Postal Services does.
In fact, Canada Post not only has an Eid Stamp, it goes one step beyond where Canadians can create their own Eid Card with personal picture and messages, pay for it online and obtain a printout. Simply Google, Canada Post Eid Stamp, and the link will pop up, directing you to the website. A Sheet of 21 Self Adhesive Stamps can be purchased online for $17.90, with two separate designs, one stating Eid Mubarak, and other celebrating the Feast.
Issuance of postal stamps commemorating religious festivals, and other non religious holidays, such as Independence day, by postal services is not something un heard of. In fact, postal services around the world issue such stamps. Unfortunately, the target market is often not the consumer who would appreciate having their religious festival celebrated by their postal service rather its the stamp "Collectors" whom are targeted as potential clients and the general public never gets to hear about it.
According to Wikipedia, "The U.S. Postal Service issued a 34 cent stamp on the 1 Sep 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 blue background. On the Forever stamp, the text in the upper left corner is "2011 USA", and text in upper right, running vertically, reads "FOREVER." Text running across bottom reads "EID GREETINGS."
So far based on our research, Canada, USA, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the only countries around the world that actually issues Eid Stamps, marking Islamic Festivals.
Unlike USA, which issues an Eid, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year Stamp, but not marking the Hindu festival of Diwali. Canada Post does recognize Diwali along with other religious festivals. The Hindu Community in US has taken notice of this and has been protesting for several years, pressuring the US Postal Services to recognize their festival of Diwali with an issuance of a Stamp.
Two of the most popular holiday stamps celebrated by Postal Services around the world are Christmas and Chinese New Year. Unlike Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah, where design remains the same for several years and only making headlines when the design is changed. Both Christmas and Chinese New Year stamps enjoy a makeover, year after year.
The most important issue on these holiday stamps is of course the availability of the stamps by general consumers. Canada Post first issued Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah stamps in 2011, however, available only through online purchases. Canada Post Press Release, dated November 1, 2012 states, "And following last year’s successful introduction, stamps celebrating three annual religious festivals (Diwali, Eid and Hanukkah) are again available for purchase online. These stamps reflect Canada’s diverse and multicultural society and celebrate annual religious festivals observed by several hundreds of thousands of Canadians."
We feel this needs to be changed. Canada Post must make an effort to make such unique and novel service which could generate hundreds and thousands of dollars for the postal services only if they were more easily accessible and made available to the public, at least, during the holiday season.
We also feel that this unique service needs to be better promoted with fanfare such as the one by US Postal Services, the public can get acquainted with such services, and developing better understanding of the faith and its celebrations, whether it be an Eid, Diwali, or Hanukkah.
At the end we would like to offer our sincerest, heartfelt Eid Greetings - Eid Mubarak - To all of the Muslims around the world and especially to our readers, advertisers, promoters, and our contributors. May you and your family members enjoy the happiest Eid, and may Allah accept all of our good deeds, our prayers, our fasting, our zakat and overlook and forgive our shortcomings during the blessed month of Ramadan (Aameen). Eid Mubarak to all.
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