For sending seasonal greetings by post in 2021, Magyar Posta, as in previous years, is releasing a self-adhesive postage stamp with no value indication and the inscription “Domestic”. The standard edition is in sheets of fifty stamps, while the special pine-scented edition is in a miniature sheet of five stamps. The main motif of the stamp design is one of the symbols of the holiday, the pine tree. The stamp was designed by the graphic artist Krisztián Daniel and produced by Codex Értékpapírnyomda Zrt.
Honouring evergreen plants was part of the traditions of Germanic, Roman, Egyptian and Celtic cultures. Some sources suggest that it was a medieval custom to fell a young tree to represent the early sacrifice of a life similarly to Jesus, who gave his life for humanity while he was young. The first record of a Christmas tree dates from the end of the 15th century, while the first documentary evidence of the sale of Christmas trees comes from 1521. The records show that the first Christmas tree was erected in Hungary in 1814.
The press sheet of 50 stamps printed by the flexographic technique is enlivened by visual elements and festive greetings in Hungarian, English, German and French on the barcode and on the lower selvedge. In order to aid separating the stamps from the sheet, the grid was previously removed during printing.
On the miniature sheet, the flexographic printing of the design of the stamps was complemented with unobtrusive spot varnish, and elegant sparkling snowflakes complete the composition. On the surface of the central part of the stamp surrounded by pine branches, there is a layer of spot varnish, which contains microcapsules of the unique scent of pine trees that can be smelt by rubbing with a finger.
The main element of the accompanying first day cover and postmark is the snowflake.
This year, as in previous years, between 28 November and 26 December 2021 customers can send their seasonal mail with a special festive postmark for a fee. This Christmas Postmark service may be requested at any post office. The standard versions of the postmarks using green ink as well as the mark “Karácsonyi Posta” (Christmas Post) can be seen on the right of the picture.
