Easter 2012
Date of issue: 24 February 2012
The volume of letters and postcards sent by the public at post offices usually leaps twice every year as part of the festivities at Christmas and Easter. This, as well as Hungarian philatelic traditions, prompts Magyar Posta to mark Christianity’s major feast by issuing a new stamp each year. Magyar Posta’s philatelic novelty was designed by the graphic artist Dóra Keresztes, made by the state printing company Állami Nyomda and released on 24 February in the presence of Bishop Antal Spányi in the building of the Hungarian Catholic Radio by Deputy CEO Gábor Bakati.
Redemption through the death by crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important message of Christian good tidings. The stamp design employs a folk style to depict the deposition with the mourning Mary holding the body of her son Jesus Christ after he was taken down from the cross. The first day cover is adorned by a graphic composition inspired by baroque folk traditions and an object associated with popular piety, metal outdoor statues of Christ on the cross. The special postmark repeats the floral motif of the stamp design.
Easter is one of Christianity’s holiest days, and is a moveable feast. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the spring equinox, in other words between 22 March and 25 April. The Hungarian word for Easter húsvét conveys the idea of a period of fasting, preparation and abstinence coming to an end by ‘taking meat’, the literal meaning of the word. In Csíkménaság the traditional Easter procession is known as “passover” but in other Hungarian areas it has names connected with the resurrection. The rites of the Christian church span a long festive period in the spring and early summer. The cycle of feasts linked to Easter ends with Pentecost. (Source: unnepnap-munkaszuneti-nap.hu * hu.wikipedia.org)
Order code: 2012021010031 (stamp); 2012021060032 (FDC)
Date of issue: 24 February 2012
Face value: HUF 105
Number of copies issued dependent on demand
Perforated size of stamp: 26 x 33 mm (100 stamps/sheet)
Printed by Állami Nyomda
Designed by Dóra Keresztes
