Paul Kaufman, East London Humanists
Published:
8:45 AM December 13, 2020
Paul Kaufman asks why doesn’t the Post Office issue stamps celebrating key events for other faiths and beliefs?
- Credit: Vishal Thaper
One harbinger of this special time of year is the unveiling of the Post Office Christmas stamps. This year they feature exquisite stained-glass windows from English Anglican churches. The stamps are a small but interesting example of the unfair sway enjoyed by the Church.
Religious symbolism on our stamps is relatively new and runs counter to the narrative that Christianity is steadily being drummed out of Christmas. Credit goes to MP Tony Benn. He implemented the idea of seasonal stamps when Postmaster General in 1966, breaking with the tradition of purely secular stamps dating back to the 1840 Penny Black.