Christmas Magi Stamps

Christmas Magi Stamps

66 cent Christmas Magi, issued to meet first class mail rates
Release date: November 19, 2014
City: Washington, DC
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America for Sennett Security Products

Only one of the four Gospels tells the story of the Magi, or wise men, who visited the infant Jesus in Bethlehem, but it is one of the most famous stories in the Bible. The Gospel of Matthew describes visitors “from the east” following a rising star in search of a child prophesied to be the Son of God. They found the child in Bethlehem and presented him with three famous gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. All three items were extremely valuable at the time. Gold, as a precious metal, brings wealth and status. Frankincense is a perfume that also has medicinal properties, such as relieving arthritis. Myrrh was used as an ointment or embalming fluid and was also an effective ointment. What’s more, each gift also has a spirit:The gold represents Jesus’ divinity and kingship on earth, the frankincense represents his holiness, and the myrrh represents his ultimate suffering and death. These meaningful gifts and the legend of the Magi who brought them remain an important part of the Christmas story. It was the generosity of the wise that established the holiday gift-giving tradition that is now well known in Western Christianity, a custom celebrated by millions every December. US #4945 was created by Nancy Stahl, the designer of the 2012 Holy Family stamps. The United States Postal Service issued the first Christmas stamp in 1962. In 1966, traditional Christmas stamps were introduced in addition to modern designs. The stamps have become a holiday tradition ever since.