US Post Office introduces 2024 Christmas stamps

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has introduced its 2024 Christmas stamps.

Just in time for the peak postal season, the USPS has issued a series of five stamps, including one featuring Jesus Christ and the Madonna. According to the USPS, the stamps “capture the festive spirit of the holiday season.”

The stamp depicting Jesus and his mother comes from a 17th century painting entitled Sassoferrato by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi.

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The other four stamps, inspired by Mexican folk art, were created by Antonio Alcalá, an art director for the USPS, using original digital illustrations by Michelle Muñoz. They feature Christmas balls and flowers and bear the text “Forever USA.”

All five are now available at post offices nationwide and online at usps.com.

“The Madonna and Child Christmas stamp is a beautiful reminder of the roots of this season,” said Sheila Holman Holman, USPS vice president of marketing, in a press release Saturday, Sept. 14. “The timeless design adds a touch of reverence and warmth to any letter. We are proud to offer this special stamp to our customers as they send their holiday greetings.”

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“These stamps provide our customers with beautiful imagery for the holidays and are more than just decorations for their cards and packages – they enable and build a bridge between families and friends across America,” said Mark Guilfoil, vice president of supply management for the USPS. “The Holiday Joy stamps not only capture the spirit of the season, they also remind us of the cherished seasonal tradition of sharing love, hope and memories through the mail, helping us stay connected with the people we care about most.”

The USPS regularly issues new stamps to celebrate holidays of all faiths. Recent offerings include special stamps for the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, celebrated for eight days, usually in December, and Day of the Dead, the Mexican holiday to pay respects to friends and family members who have died.

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Because postal services are busier during the holidays (which include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's), the USPS announced that it would increase its rates during the peak season.

The price changes range from 30 cents for smaller items to $16 for larger packages. The temporary measures will take effect on October 6, 2024 at midnight CT and will remain in effect until January 19, 2025 at midnight CT, pending approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). They will only apply to packages sent via Priority Mail Express (PME), Priority Mail (PM), and USPS Ground Advantage.