HO, HO, holy cats! Christmas 2023 stamps are here! And of course, I have a backlog of new issues to post. Stamps are rolling in at a fast pace now, so there will be updates almost daily for the month of November. This is becoming a fun tradition here at Bitter Grounds HQ. I sit with some chai and cruise around the world checking out all the fun Christmas stamps and covers while ignoring the cold weather knocking at the window.
2022 offered up the usual nice stamps, but the ones that both surprised and delighted me the most came from Sri Lanka. No artist name was given, which is irritating. The 50.00 blue stamp was the true highlight. I can’t be sure, but if I had to guess, I’d say up to 3 artists were involved in this series. The two stamps and the souvenir sheet each show distinctly different techniques.
It’s a magical combination of traditional Christmas motifs and graceful Sri Lankan artistic styles. I keep cruising by the Sri Lankan post website, hoping to see a 2023 Christmas stamp, but as of today (Nov. 1, 2023) no luck. I’ll keep looking.
Enjoy this year’s offerings.
Cheers
Catpaw
Åland
Greetings from the Islands of Peace
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset
Both stamps include elements of Åland handicraft products incorporated in the art.
- Peace Angel – note the necklace around the angel’s neck. It is a Blomman flower pendant, a piece designed by Åland jewellery-makers Guldviva and considered a symbol of the Islands since 1992.
- Peace Dove – this stamp includes handicrafts from the Island of Husö. The branch candle represents a product produced on the Island – hand-dipped branch candles.
- On the FDC – a Blomman flower pendant is used as a star on the Christmas tree
Artist: Lasse Harkkala
Finnish born artist Harkkala also designed Åland’s 2022 EUROPA stamps. He now makes Åland his home.
Åland Post Stamps visit Lasse Harkkala – Åland Stamps (alandstamps.com)
Designer: Johanna Finne
Release date: October 20, 2023
Alderney
The Christmas Story
0 stamps, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, sheets of 10
- 51p Stamp: The Holy Family
- 56p Stamp: The Annunciation
- 79p Stamp: Joseph’s dream
- 87p Stamp: Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem on a donkey
- £1.21 Stamp: No rom at the Inn
- £1.39 Stamp: Angel Gabriel visits the Shepherds
- £1.50 Stamp: The Magi follow the Star of Bethlehem
- £4.93 Stamp: Adoration of the Magi
Designer: Martin Hargreaves
Release date: November 1, 2023
Andorra Sp
Christmas – Torró
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
One of the most divine Christmas treats is Spanish nougat. There are two types of Alicante or hard and Jijona, soft. Of the two, jijona is superior, especially when paired with a strong espresso.
Of the various theories that have been formulated about its origin, the most plausible is the one that assigns the sweet to the Arabian Peninsula, where sweets made with nuts and honey are typical. Its subsequent spread reached other areas of the Mediterranean basin such as North Africa, Italy or southern France.
The arrival in the Iberian Peninsula coincided with the incursions of the Arabs and the establishment of Al-Andalus, taking root especially in the southern regions of the Valencian Community, especially in Alicante and Jijona. There are documentary traces of the production of nougat in Sexona, now Jijona, since the fourteenth century. Other documents mention nougat as part of the wedding menu of one of King James I’s daughters. Stamps – Nadal. Torró. (correos.es)
Spanish Nougat for Christmas: How Turron Became the Holiday Staple (yummybazaar.com)
Release date: November 16, 2023
Armenia
1 stamp on souvenir sheet
offset
Designer: David Dovlatyan Դավիթ Դովլաթյանի
Release date: December 5, 2023
Austria
Each year Austria releases a number of stamps that celebrate Christmas, or have a Christmas feel. They issue both religious and secular themes stamps. This year, I’ve pulled them together under this subheading because so many people enjoy collecting Christmas stamps. This year, there are 6 Christmas/Winter themed stamps to look for.
Christmas Sweater
1 stamp, cancel, FDC, info sheet
offset on flocked paper with +Pantone 185C
Part of an ongoing series titled “philatelic winter wardrobe”, that includes toques and mittens.
Designer: David Gruber
Release date: October 21, 2023
Christmas Snow Crystal
1 stamp, cancel
offset
Designer: Marion Füllerer
Release date: November 17, 2023
Christmas – Festive Sledge
1 stamp, cancel
offset
Designer: Kirsten Lubach
Release date: November 17, 2023
Christmas – Holy Family
Parish church Waldhausen in Strudengau
1 stamp, cancel, maxi card
offset
17th c painting by unknown south German artist.
A special presentation will be held at the library in the parish of Waldhausen im Strudengau. It will be jointly hosted by the Strudengau philatelists, the parish of Waldhausen and the municipality of Waldhausen
Special presentation
If you are lucky enough to be in the area and attend, drop me a note and let me know about it.
Waldhausen im Strudengau – GEM2GO WEB – Home
Designer: Theresa Radlingmaier
Release date: November 17, 2023
Christmas – Snow Globe
1 stamp, cancel
offset
Designer: Roland Vorlaufer
Release date: December 1, 2023
Parish Church Oppenberg – Adoration of Kings
1 stamp, cancel
Designer: Kirsten Lubach
Release date: December 1, 2023
Australia
Secular
Religious
5 stamps, 1 souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, 5 maxi cards, 5 booklets, stamp packs, 3 sheets, numismatic cover, embellished sheets
Offset lithography
Artist: Dani Poon
Designer: Jo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio (secular stamps and products)
Dani Poon (religious stamps)
Release date: November 1, 2023
Belarus
8 stamps, 8 sheets of 4, souvenir sheet of 8, 2 FDCs, cancel, 8 maxi cards
offset
- New Year’s wizard
- Pleasant expectation
- Believe in miracle
- Holiday chores
- Time for presents
- Good news
- Sweet present
- Delicious treat
Designer: Yauheniya Biadonik
Release date: October 16, 2023
Canada
Secular
3 stamps, 1 booklets of 6, 1 booklet of 12, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
Religious
1 stamp, booklet of 12, FDC, cancel
offset
Canada Post issues both a secular and a religious stamp for Christmas.
Canadian Winters:
Jocelyne Saulnier of Joce Creative
I am super excited to share that I designed Canada Post’s 2023 holiday stamp series. It has been a pleasure to work with the ever talented Tim Zeltner, of i2i Illustrations, who’s beautiful and unique folk art style brought this concept to life: a continuous, magical winter scene featuring a panorama of Canada from West to East.
Joce described working on this project Canada Post | Joce Creative
Artist: Tim Zeltner
Illustrator Tim Zeltner | Represented by i2i Art Inc.
Designers:
Madonna and Child: Adrian Horvath
Horvath designed one of Canada posts most popular sets the 2021 Snow Mammals. Horvath’s first stamp design was the 2016
Star Trek 50th Anniversary set.
Release date: November 2, 2023
Christmas Island
2 stamps, 2 FDCs, souvenir sheet, sheet, 2 stamp packs
offset lithography
Artist: Rosie Marshall
Designer: Sonia Young
Release date: November 1, 2023
Croatia
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, souvenir sheet, sheets of 20
offset
Designer: Ariana Noršić
Release date: November 22, 2023
Cyprus
3 stamps, 2 FDCs, 3 sheets of 8, 3 maxicards
Release date: November 17, 2023
Denmark
Christmas Forest
10 stamps, mini sheet of 5, sheet of 10, full sheet of 50
Designer: Lisa Grue
About Lisa Grue
Release date: November 3, 2023
Faroe Islands
Sheltered Workshops and Activity Centres – Angels
Series: Christmas
2 stamps, 2 maxi cards, FDC, cancel, 2 postcards
offset
Christmas Angels created by Sheltered Workshops for sale
The angels are all handmade and unique. We aim for the process of producing the objects to be creative, and to evolve and contribute to the development of competence and inventive abilities. There is a lot of work behind each angel. No single citizen creates the whole angel himself or herself, but everyone does their part. One makes the body, another the wings, a third the halo, etc. In this way, the angel shows how people with different characteristics can work and progress together. No one is able to do everything. Everyone can do something – and together we can do a lot. Stamps.fo
Designer: Dagtilhaldið Fragdin and Verkhúsið Virkni
Release date: October 23, 2023
Christmas Seals
15 seals on a sheet that form a larger angel, Christmas cards
offset
Designer: Jonna Ljósá
Release date: October 23, 2023
Finland
Winter Joy
1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC, cancel
offset
Since childhood, Minna has been interested in animals, especially owls.
“My grandmother had a stuffed owl, and I drew friends for it as a child. I still draw owls, and they have already made it to quite a few places. I’m happy that they can also show themselves on winter stamps.”
There is also a story behind the apple tree on the Christmas stamp.
“In front of our cottage’s porch, we have a winter apple tree with apples that are firmly attached to the branches. I look forward to the first snowfall in the fall and the beautiful accumulation of snow on the apples. Red apples are also associated with Christmas, so I decided to include winter apples on the stamp,” Minna says.
Designer: Minna Lehväslaiho
Release date: November 8, 2023
Christmas Wreath
1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC, cancel
“We have six cats at home and I sketched them for the stamps as well, but in the end we ended up choosing squirrels and a Christmas wreath for the Finnish Christmas stamps.” Minna Lehväslaiho writing about 2023’s animal theme.
Designer: Minna Lehväslaiho
Postcards by Minna Lehväslaiho
Release date: November 8, 2023
Great Britain
5 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 2 booklet packs, presentation pack, collector’s sheet
Gravure
Designer: Steers McGillan Eves
Artist: Tom Duxbury
Release date: November 2, 2023
Greece
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, 2 booklets, stamp pack
offset with gold printing
Designer: Anthoula Lynga
Lynga also designed Greece’s 2023 EUROMED: Kalamata Dance Festival stamps.
Release date: November 2, 2023
Guernsey
The Christmas Story
3 stamps, 3 booklets of 10
Designer: Alexandra Ball
Release date: November 27, 2023
Jersey
What does Christmas mean to you?
8 stamps, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, 8 sheets of 8, 8 postcards
lithography plus spot litho metallic silver ink
Jersey Post asked 8 local artists to create a stamp that answers the question “what does Christmas mean to you?”
Designers:
- Will Bertram
- Dean Porter
- Glen Fox
- Erin Brown
- Louise Ramsay
- Rosemary Blackmore
- Gabriella Street
- Lauren Radley
Release date: November 11, 2023
Isle of Man
Manx Winter Wildlife – Christmas 2023
6 stamps, 6 post and goes, 2 FDCs, cancel 6 sheets of 20
offset, 4 colour offset with silver PMS Metallic Silver
- Cleeau-Yiarg – Robin at Old Ballaugh Church
- Keyrrey Loaghtyn – Loaghtan Sheep at Cregneash
- Mwaagh ny Sleityn – Mountain Hare at Peel Castle
- Pibbin – Puffin at The Sound
- Kayt Manninagh – Manx Cat at Tynwald Hill
- Raun – Seal in Laxey Bay
Artist: Rowan Corlett
Corlett is a Manx based artist who specialises in the landscapes and wildlife of Man
Release date: October 26, 2023
Jersey
What does Christmas mean to you?
8 stamps, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, 8 sheets of 8, 8 postcards
lithography plus spot litho metallic silver ink
Jersey Post asked 8 local artists to create a stamp that answers the question “what does Christmas mean to you?”
Designers:
- Will Bertram
- Dean Porter
- Glen Fox
- Erin Brown
- Louise Ramsay
- Rosemary Blackmore
- Gabriella Street
- Lauren Radley
Release date: November 11, 2023
Netherlands
10 stamps, sheets of 20
The artist Linde Faas created each stamp with a different sentiment and mood meant to evoke a warm, nostalgic Christmas memory. She wrote extensively on her Instagram page about each stamp. The first one, The hare and the letter, was a test stamp for the series. As she created it, the theme of “Christmas Magic” came to mind.
The magic of the winter- and Christmas period. Of the nature of winter and of the special moment of receiving a written envelope, not knowing yet what it holds inside.
Each illustration is an attempt to “capture” a slice of Christmas magic.
Designer: Linde Faas
Release date: December 13, 2023
San Marino
Christmas 2023
1 stamp, sheets of 12, cancel
offset
Artist: Botticelli
Painting: “Virgin with Child and Angels” (“Madonna of the Magnificat”) 1481, tempura
Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Release date: October 24, 2023
The Christmas of Wonders – Special Cancel
First Tower of San Marino covered in snow and surrounded by stars
Issued to coincide with the annual “The Christmas of Wonders” of the Republic of San Marino.
Release date: November 11, 2023 to Epiphany 2024
Serbia
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 25
offset
Designer: MA Nadežda Skočajić
Nadežda Skočajić / Krojačeva škola (krojacevaskola.com)
Release date: December 15, 2023
Sri Lanka
2 stamps, souvenir sheet
offset
Gift of the Magi
No designer listed
Release date: December 1, 2023
Sweden
Winter Blooms
1 stamp, 10 stamps in booklet form, FDC, coils
offset
Designer: Rebecca Elfast
Elfast originally trained as an architect. She now works as a freelance illustrator and pattern designer. She previously designed Åland’s Christmas 2021,
Rebelform – Illustration and Pattern Design by Rebecca Elfast – Illustration
Release date: November 2, 2023
Switzerland
Snow crystals
4 stamps, 2 FDCs, 2 cancels
offset
“I was watching how the snow crystals covered the fir trees, and I imagined deer, mice and rabbits running around, happily collecting snow crystals to decorate their own Christmas trees.” Aura Naomi Schoppig Ruiz
Designer: Aura Naomi Schoppig Ruiz
Release date: November 8, 2023
Gifts of Saint Nicholas
1 stamp, souvenir sheet of 5, FDC, 2 cancels, maxicard
offset, foil embossing
Charity stamp
On the postal issue “Gifts of St. Nicholas” in the interpretation of the famous Ukrainian illustrator Kostya Lavro, it was possible to combine two significant holidays for Ukrainians. Preserving the traditional children’s image of St. Nicholas, a kind grandfather-magician, the artist skillfully recreated and supplemented it with relevant details. Yes, Nicholas does not fly through the sky on a sleigh, but rides on a Cossack horse. He has a camouflage bag filled with military equipment: planes, tanks, missiles, which are desperately needed by the Ukrainian army for our Victory.
We combine special holidays: Ukrposhta presented the postage stamp “Gifts of St. Nicholas”
Designer: Kost Lavro
Release date: December 6, 2023
Holiday Post Marks
Release dates vary: Between December 3, 2023 to January 6, 2024
Ukrainian Christmas Carols in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, 2 cancels, maxi card, booklet
offset
- Assumption Cathedral. 17th century (Kyiv)
- Give a happy summer to our glorious Ukraine
- Assumption Cathedral. XVIII-XX centuries. (Kyiv)
Designer: Mykola Kochubey | Миколай Кочубей
Release date: December 22, 2023
United States
4 stamps
Christmas snow globes will pop up sometime in fall for the Christmas season. Gregory Manchess created 4 different winter/Christmas themes featuring snowmen, Santa, deer and a Christmas tree.
Artist: Gregory Manchess
Release date: September 19, 2023
Vatican
Holy Christmas MMXXIII
1 stamp, booklet of 2 stamps
offset
Artist: Franciscan friar Michelangelo Cianti
Painting: Miracle of Greccio 1902
Location: Franciscan convent of San Bonaventura, in Frascati
Release date: November 23, 2023
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