Das festliche Dekorieren des Hauses oder der Wohnung in den Farben Grün, Rot und Weiß, Silber und Gold ist Teil des weihnachtlichen Brauchtums. Beliebter Weihnachtsschmuck sind der Adventskranz und der Adventskalender sowie die ursprünglich aus dem Erzgebirge stammenden Schwibbögen und die Weihnachtspyramiden, die mit ihrem Licht für Behaglichkeit sorgen. Den Mittelpunkt der Weihnachtsstimmung bilden die mit bunten Glaskugeln, Kerzen oder elektrischen Lichterketten, aus Holz oder Metall gefertigten Formen und Figuren, Strohsternen und Lametta geschmückten Tannenbäume und die kunstvoll gestalteten Weihnachtskrippen. Deutsche Post
Stamp designed by Thomas Steinacker
The stamp highlights popular Christmas decorations like bulbs, Advent calendars, fir branches, and stars. Designer Thomas Steinacker also created the Jan 2020 stamp issued to commemorate Beethoven’s 250th birthday.
Deutsche Post Christmas stamp – booklets & s/s
Christmas decorations available in 10 stamp booklet
Souvenir sheets
The Christmas motif self-adhesive is also available in booklets of 10 stamps and a souvenir sheet.
Grußkarten-Set “Weihnachten 2020” / Christmas stamps Greeting Card Set
5 different greeting cards and 10 stamps
If you enjoy sending traditional Christmas cards, the Germany Post Office sells a set of 10 greeting cards, with 5 unique designs, plus envelopes and 10 self-adhesive stamps. The German post office does Christmas up with panache.
Don’t forget to follow Bitter Grounds via any of the links just below this article.
Beloved Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis graces 3 Christmas stamps for 2020. Canada Post unveiled them with the cooperation of the Art Museum of Nova Scotia, who are proud curators of her works. Three stamps, a FDC and a lovely souvenir sheet are now available.
Maud Adams stamp – permanent stamp for domestic use
US Deliver
International Mail
“As long as I’ve got a brush in front of me, I’m alright” Maud Lewis
Maude Lewis painted on anything available, cardboard, wood planks, drywall, pots, and every inch of the one room home she shared with her husband Everett. The entire house became her canvas, a wonderful, colourful canvas filled with vibrant images and life. Despite living in a one room home with no electricity
Maud Lewis’ home is now part a permanent exhibit
or running water, Maud managed to create a memorable visual archive of rural life in Nova Scotia. Her works hang in galleries around the world and is in demand.
If you are unfamiliar with Maud Lewis, start with this short NFB documentary on her. It offers a thumbnail sketch of Lewis and her art. Then head over to the Art Museum of Nova Scotia to read her biography.
2020 Maud Lewis Stamps
Along with the three stamps, Canada Post has issued a FDC and souvenir sheet. My favourite part of the s/s is Maud’s wonderfully fluffy and wide-eyed cats. Canada Post needs to do a series with just her cats.
Maud Lewis’ cats were the best.
The First Day Cover includes the full souvenir sheet and a special cancel displaying two deer, also taken from Maud’s paintings.
First day cover .. you can’t beat those cats
Hélène L’Heureux, graphic designer
Hélène L’Heureux designed these delightful Maud Lewis stamps, and I have to say, I’m so happy she included the whimsical little cats on the souvenir sheet. L’Heureux also designed the 2012 gingerbread cookie Christmas stamps and the magnificent Yosuf Karsh series in 2008, to name just a few of her works. I list her designs as my favourites when I think of modern Canadian stamps. Check out Wiki for a list of her Canada Post designs. All the stamps, FDC and souvenir sheets are on sale now at most Canada Post outlets. If they aren’t available, you can buy them online at Canada Post. If you know any stamp collectors, or folk-art fans, this might be the perfect Christmas present for them.
Don’t forget to check out upcoming Canadian stamps for 2021:
I want to thank everyone who has dropped me a note and still visited the site, despite the lack of fun content. It's been a bit of a hard slog on this end and the double vision really makes things a bit rough. However, it looks like a diagnosis is on the horizon which means treatment.
In the meantime, I'm going to try and write. If I get things a little wonky, just sigh with me. Its hard to take life seriously when everything is blurry and doubled.
