The 12 Days Of Christmas Stamps 2014: Day 7 – Ireland & Monaco

Three Christmas stamps were released by Ireland on 6 November 2014. The 68c self-adhesive stamp features a photograph of a little girl of St. Joseph’s Nursery in Dublin singing carols while the other two stamps feature portions of stained glass windows designed by Harry Clarke. These are “The Infant Christ” and “Angel With A Lute.”

Monaco’s 2014 Christmas stamp was released on 3rd November and illustrates “The Adoration of the Magi,” a painting by the Italian artist Taddeo di Bartolo. The Adoration of the Magi is the name traditionally given to the subject in the Nativity of Jesus in art in which the three Magi, represented as kings, especially in the West, having found Jesus by following a star, lay before him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worship him.

On the church calendar, this event is commemorated in Western Christianity as the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). The Orthodox Church commemorates the Adoration of the Magi on the Feast of the Nativity (December 25).

Regardless of your religious affiliation or the manner in which you celebrate (if at all) the Christmas season, I hope you are enjoying a look at the beautiful art created on these bits of paper we call postage stamps. If you would like to spread a little holiday cheer and send me a postcard or letter with a nice Christmas stamp affixed, I’d be very appreciative. My mailing address can be found below.

Happy Holidays!