Hungarian Stamps

Magyar Posta traditionally celebrates the Christmas holiday by issuing postage stamps. In 2009 two stamps with entirely different styles will be available in post offices to pay the postage for mail sending Christmas wishes with befitting stamps.

The HUF 75 stamp shows a devotional image, the painting Our Lady of he Way by Masa Feszty, based on a photograph by József Hajdú. On the HUF 100 stamp there is a playful graphic design reflecting the spirit of Christmas. The graphic design of the first day cover and postmarks complement the stamps.

During the weeks of advent Magyar Posta offers a special postmarking opportunity for senders of Christmas and New Year greetings. The service is available at all post offices. The Karácsonyi Posta (Christmas Post) label must be bought and affixed to letters and postcards.

The mail is then taken to the post office in Nagykarácsony (meaning Christmas in Hungarian) where it is cancelled using a different special postmark for each week of Advent, not in the usual black ink but in green ink. Through this small gesture of caring the addressees can feel the love and respect expressed towards them.

The Christmas postmarks to be used between 29 November and 26 December 2009 were designed by the graphic designer Barnabás Baticz.

• (DOMESTIC) standard letter weight up to 30g (between 2009-01-01 and 2009-12-31)
• (DOMESTIC) postcard (between 2009-01-01 and 2009-12-31)