This year's designs show stained glass windows, a theme previously used
in 1971 and 1992.
The Royal Mail have unveiled their Christmas stamps for Christmas 2009
and feature religious pictures depicted in stained glass windows. The
Christmas stamps feature the work of Pre-Raphaelite artists William
Morris, Sir Edward Burne-Jones and Henry Holiday. The stamps were designed
by Andrew Ross after he researched hundreds of photographs of stained
glass windows from around the country, before deciding upon the final set
of images from the 19th century.
Overheard in a Post Office in Portchester,
UK
Customer: I'd like a dozen Christmas stamps. Employee: Would that be six or twelve, Madam?
2009 USA Christmas Stamps
The 2009 Christmas stamp features "Madonna and Sleeping Child", a
painting by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi (1609-1685), more
commonly known as Sassoferrato.
The 2009 winter holiday season will be celebrated with stamps featuring
a reindeer, snowman, gingerbread man and toy soldier. Stamp artist Joseph
Cudd, of Greensboro, NC, created the stamps under the direction of Richard
Sheaff.
Angel with Lute (see right). This 2009 stamp features a detail of a
fragment of a circa-1480 fresco by Melozzo da Forli (1438-1494).
Hanukkah
The 2009 Hanukkah design features a photograph of a menorah with nine
lit candles. The menorah was designed by Lisa Re gan of the Garden Deva
Sculpture Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and photographed by Ira Wexler of
Braddock Heights, MD.
The eight days and nights of Hanukkah, a joyous
annual festival, begin on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a
date that falls in late November or December. Hanukkah begins on December 11
in 2009, and on December 1 in 2010.
Kwanzaa
With this colorful stamp, the Postal Service celebrates Kwanzaa, a
non-religious holiday that takes place over seven days from December 26 to
Jan. 1. Kwanzaa draws on African traditions and takes its name from the
phrase for "first fruits" in Swahili, a widely spoken African language. Stamp artist Lloyd McNeill of New York City, created a festive, highly
symbolic design to celebrate the holiday.
It was a cold and misty Christmas morning in the very depth of winter
after a heavy fall of snow and only Farmer Evans and the Reverend Joseph
Lancaster managed to arrive at the church for the morning service.
'Well,' said the Vicar laconically, 'I guess there's no point in
having a service today.'
'Well that's not how I see it.' said Farmer Evans smartly. 'If only
one cow turns up at feeding time, I still feed it.'
The Duchess of Cornwall's bid to turn on the Christmas lights at
Britain's oldest shopping arcade failed when a tassel came off in her
hand.
The Duchess, 62, was invited to illuminate London's exclusive
Burlington Arcade, which opened in 1819. After a countdown from shoppers,
she went to turn on the lights by pulling a rope with a large gold tassel,
and the tassel came off in her hand report Will and Guy.
The blunder was met with howls of laughter from the crowd of guests,
while the Duchess looked around sheepishly with a broad grin on her face.
The row of 19 geometric light sculptures which lined the arcade's roof
eventually lit up after a short delay to cheers from the crowd.
Other Camilla Clangers
The embarrassment follows several other incidents in which the Duchess
has been left red-faced at opening ceremonies:
a) In 2007, the Duchess failed to smash the bottle of champagne at the
naming of the Queen Victoria cruise liner. b) Early in 2009 she was
also reduced to laughter when she broke a plaque at an unveiling ceremony
for a homeless charity in Plymouth.
Christmas Riddles
What do you get if Santa comes down your chimney when the fire
is a alight? Crisp Kringle
Why does rain drop, but snow fall? (Nobody can answer this
conundrum)
What do you call people who are frightened of Santa? Will's
Answer: Claustraphopic. (Guy's answer:
Non-existent)
Sterling silver charms to bring good fortune. Notice
on the back: Potential choking hazard: do not use with food.
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