View from the Pew
A look inside Hawaii's houses of worshipBy Mary Adamski
Eid Blessings!
Some of the most popular postage stamps
are religioius images, designed to
celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas
and the Muslim holiday Eid el FitrHappy Hanukkah!
Christmas Peace!
As holiday festivals in three major world religions approach, it's boom time for greeting-card sellers. But believers don't need to go to a commercial source to find appropriate felicitations for their holy days. Just go to the post office.
Some of the most popular stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service are the religious images on sale now as the Jewish Hanukkah festival, the Muslim Eid el Fitr at the end of the Ramadan fast and the season of Christmas approach.
This is the 41st consecutive year that the post office has printed a Christmas stamp that marks the day when Jesus was born, in addition to the secular Santa or snowman versions.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY BRYANT FUKUTOMI AND RICHARD WALKER / STAR-
BULLETIN
This year's richly colored "Madonna and Child" is from a painting by 16th-century artist Jan Gossaert. It was issued last month at the Art Institute of Chicago, where the original painting is hung.
Most of the Christian religious images used on stamps have been from the Renaissance period of artistic expression in Europe, according to the Postal Service catalog.
The Hanukkah image of multicolored candles in a menorah is a familiar one for seasonal buyers. It was launched in 1996, a joint issue by the United States and Israel, celebrating friendship and mutual support by the two nations. Originally a 32-cent or 2.5-shekel postage stamp, it was reissued this year as a 37-center.
Washington, D.C., artist Hannah Smotrich created the lively candelabra design, with the text in Hebrew: "A great miracle happened here."
Lighting a new candle on each of the eight nights of the Festival of Lights is the way Jews observe the miracle that Hanukkah commemorates. It was in 165 B.C. that Jewish rebels succeeded in reclaiming their temple in Jerusalem from Syrian captors. Although only a tiny amount of undefiled oil was found, it kept the temple lamps burning for eight days.
The holiday, which is set by the lunar Hebrew calendar, will begin on Nov. 30 this year and end Dec. 7.
Arlington, Va., artist Mohamed Zakariya created the gilt-on-blue Islamic commemorative, which features Arabic calligraphy "Eid mubarak" -- meaning "blessed festival." The greeting is traditional for Eid el Fitr, the finale of the month of fasting from sunup to sundown, which will be Dec. 5 or 6, depending on when the sliver of new moon is sighted. It also applies to Eid al-Adha two months later. Ramadan, which began Wednesday, marks the holy time when the prophet Muhammad recorded God's words from the angel Gabriel. Eid al-Adha means the "festival of sacrifice," marking the event when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son for God.
The Eid stamp was first released on Sept. 1 last year. It was reissued this month in the 37-cent denomination.
President Bush didn't use the traditional greeting, but he did issue a Ramadan message to Muslims this week: "May you be well during Ramadan and throughout the coming year."
In the message, disseminated by the American Muslim Council, Bush said "Muslims observe this month by renewing their dedication to caring for those in need, doing good deeds, and strengthening family and community ties. These actions reflect many of the values that Muslims share with people of other faiths across our nation and around the world, including courage, compassion and service. America remains committed to freedom, justice, and opportunity for all people. During this season of reverence and examination, we continue to work together for a future of peace, tolerance and understanding."
Another seasonal stamp that was reissued this year in the current price range is for Kwanzaa, an African-American cultural holiday that is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
The stamp, designed by Los Angeles artist Synthia Saint James, was first issued in 1997.
The holiday -- named from a Swahili word for "first fruits" --was created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, professor of black studies at California State University-Long Beach, as a way for American blacks to celebrate their identity in terms of basic African cultural values and customs.
The U.S. Postal Service has yet to take official artistic note of other religions, but that didn't dampen this season for the Hindus, whose Diwali, festival of lights, celebrates the New Year and the triumph of good over evil. It was marked last week.
Folks in the Baha'i Faith will still exchange the message of openness and inclusiveness that is the foundation of their beliefs as they mark the birth of their founder, Baha'u'llah, on Tuesday.
Buddhists don't need a stamp of approval to mark the event of Buddha's achievement of enlightenment. That'll be on Bodhi Day, Dec. 8.
But perhaps none of us really needs to wait for a specific memorial affirmation. There are new "Love" stamps issued every year, and that's a message that all people of good will have in common, don't you think?
That reminds me, back to that commercial card shop, of the message in a Hallmark Hanukkah card. "Some people are celebrating Hanukkah," it said, and "Some people are celebrating Christmas."
Then, inside: "Thank goodness for holiday snacks, that sugary bridge that brings us all together. Enjoy YOUR holiday."
Have a sweet season, full of love, blessings, peace ... and miracles.
RELIGION CALENDAR
Mary Adamski covers religion for the Star-Bulletin.
Email her at madamski@starbulletin.com.
