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#6033-36
2025 First-Class Forever Stamps,Holiday Cheer
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US #6033-36
2025 Holiday Cheer
- For use on 2025 holiday mail
- Set of Four
Stamp Category: Special
Set: Holiday Cheer
Value: 78¢, First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: September 13, 2025
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 500,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Booklet of 20
Why the stamp was issued: The Holiday Cheer stamps were issued for use on mail sent during the 2025 holiday season.
About the stamp design: Each of the four designs picture a collage created by Denise Fiedler. She painted on paper from a vintage gardening book, then cut the paper into shapes. These, she pasted on an archival cotton board to create the stamps images. They include a holly wreath, amaryllis flowers, an evergreen branch with fruit, and cardinals on a mistletoe branch.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in Washington, DC
About the Contemporary Christmas Series: The US issued its first Christmas stamp (picturing a wreath and candles) on November 1, 1962, and it was wildly popular. The Post Office printed 350 million stamps, the largest print run for a special stamp up to that time, but still the stamps quickly sold out. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced more to satisfy demand and the total number issued was over 860 million by the end of the year.
In 1966, the Post Office started issuing traditional themed Christmas stamps picturing the Madonna and Child and other religious icons. In 1969, they switched back to non-religious Christmas designs with a stamp picturing the painting Winter Sunday in Norway, Maine.
Finally, in 1970, the Post Office decided to permanently split Christmas stamps into two categories to satisfy everyone: Traditional and Contemporary. They issued a block of four stamps picturing Christmas toys along with a stamp picturing a classic painting of the Nativity. The decision to do both proved popular, and the Post Office has continued to issue stamps in both categories ever since.
History the stamp represents:
Christmas Wreath: The traditional Christmas wreath hanging on the front door has become a welcoming gesture of friendship. Most often, a simple circle of evergreens decorated with a festive red bow greets visitors.
Wreaths have been created throughout the world for hundreds of years. Greek and Roman mythology first identified the wreath as having religious significance. These stories make references to wreaths as symbols of honor. In the Middle Ages, they were often created to look like the rosary, and in England, interweaving dried flowers and herbs was popular. As a display of the happiness felt on the day they proclaimed their religious devotion, nuns in 18th-century Mexico wore wreaths on their heads. In the United States, the tradition of combining fruits, vegetables, pinecones, and evergreens began in the Williamsburg settlement in Virginia over two centuries ago.
The Christmas wreath, usually made of holly leaves and berries, can be found hanging mainly in northern Europe, Canada, and the United States. During the holiday season, many people of the Christian faith hang an Advent wreath, made of fir tree branches, from the ceiling. It is decorated with four candles, to be lit one by one on the four Sundays preceding Christmas.
Cardinals: The northern cardinal is a bright red songbird that is a favorite among all birders. The male cardinal has the customary red feathers and black mask, while the female is a dull reddish olive with a gray mask. Both sexes have crests on top of their heads that can be raised when agitated or trying to attract a mate.
During mating season, male northern cardinals sway side to side and sing softly to call in a female. If his efforts are rewarded by the appearance of a female, the male begins to feed her in order to bond and show his worthiness. Once the two mate, they then pair together for life.
The male and female cardinal look for possible nest locations as a team. Once an acceptable site is located, the female is the primary nest builder, though the male helps by bringing her materials. Male cardinals are extremely attentive mates and will feed the female throughout the entire incubation of her eggs. Males are also in charge of caring for the brood of young birds while the female incubates the next generation of eggs. The male cardinal's main task is to provide for and defend his young. He also teaches his children the unique songs passed down through generations of cardinals.
Northern cardinals are beautiful birds enjoyed by both birders and non-birders alike. Their distinctive songs and admirable devotion to their mates make them fun to watch throughout the dull winter.
Amaryllis: After years of confusion and debate, 19th-century botanists determined the genus Amaryllis included two species. The species native to South Africa was given the name amaryllis. The other, from South America, was named Hippeastrum. Apparently undeterred by the work of those prominent scientists, the American public has insisted on ignoring the first species and calling the Hippeastrum “amaryllis” throughout history.
A cousin of the daffodil, the misnamed amaryllis is a popular winter flower in the United States. Grown from a flowering bulb, it is easy to maintain and thrilling to see any of the many varieties bloom indoors in the heart of winter.
Evergreen Branch with Fruit: Americans who enjoy the warm glow of a decorated Christmas tree on cozy winter nights may credit the people of Germany.
Christmas trees were part of a Teutonic ritual. Because its foliage remained green even in the dead of winter, the Germanic tribe believed evergreens represented eternal life.
Much like St. Patrick and the clover leaf, Saint Boniface, the patron saint of Germany, is said to have used the triangular shape of the Christmas tree to explain the concept of the Trinity.
One of the first public Christmas trees was erected by German settlers in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. Fruits, nuts, flowers, candles, and baked ornaments adorned the trees.
The weight of the ornaments caused weaker branches to droop, prompting enterprising German glassblowers to produce lightweight glass balls for decorations. In 1882, Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, suggested electric lights to replace the dangerous candles.
Department stores and churches began to erect large, illuminated holiday trees around the turn of the century. Today, public tree-lightings signal the beginning of the holiday season in many cities around the world.
US #6033-36
2025 Holiday Cheer
- For use on 2025 holiday mail
- Set of Four
Stamp Category: Special
Set: Holiday Cheer
Value: 78¢, First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: September 13, 2025
First Day City: Washington, DC
Quantity Issued: 500,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Booklet of 20
Why the stamp was issued: The Holiday Cheer stamps were issued for use on mail sent during the 2025 holiday season.
About the stamp design: Each of the four designs picture a collage created by Denise Fiedler. She painted on paper from a vintage gardening book, then cut the paper into shapes. These, she pasted on an archival cotton board to create the stamps images. They include a holly wreath, amaryllis flowers, an evergreen branch with fruit, and cardinals on a mistletoe branch.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in Washington, DC
About the Contemporary Christmas Series: The US issued its first Christmas stamp (picturing a wreath and candles) on November 1, 1962, and it was wildly popular. The Post Office printed 350 million stamps, the largest print run for a special stamp up to that time, but still the stamps quickly sold out. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced more to satisfy demand and the total number issued was over 860 million by the end of the year.
In 1966, the Post Office started issuing traditional themed Christmas stamps picturing the Madonna and Child and other religious icons. In 1969, they switched back to non-religious Christmas designs with a stamp picturing the painting Winter Sunday in Norway, Maine.
Finally, in 1970, the Post Office decided to permanently split Christmas stamps into two categories to satisfy everyone: Traditional and Contemporary. They issued a block of four stamps picturing Christmas toys along with a stamp picturing a classic painting of the Nativity. The decision to do both proved popular, and the Post Office has continued to issue stamps in both categories ever since.
History the stamp represents:
Christmas Wreath: The traditional Christmas wreath hanging on the front door has become a welcoming gesture of friendship. Most often, a simple circle of evergreens decorated with a festive red bow greets visitors.
Wreaths have been created throughout the world for hundreds of years. Greek and Roman mythology first identified the wreath as having religious significance. These stories make references to wreaths as symbols of honor. In the Middle Ages, they were often created to look like the rosary, and in England, interweaving dried flowers and herbs was popular. As a display of the happiness felt on the day they proclaimed their religious devotion, nuns in 18th-century Mexico wore wreaths on their heads. In the United States, the tradition of combining fruits, vegetables, pinecones, and evergreens began in the Williamsburg settlement in Virginia over two centuries ago.
The Christmas wreath, usually made of holly leaves and berries, can be found hanging mainly in northern Europe, Canada, and the United States. During the holiday season, many people of the Christian faith hang an Advent wreath, made of fir tree branches, from the ceiling. It is decorated with four candles, to be lit one by one on the four Sundays preceding Christmas.
Cardinals: The northern cardinal is a bright red songbird that is a favorite among all birders. The male cardinal has the customary red feathers and black mask, while the female is a dull reddish olive with a gray mask. Both sexes have crests on top of their heads that can be raised when agitated or trying to attract a mate.
During mating season, male northern cardinals sway side to side and sing softly to call in a female. If his efforts are rewarded by the appearance of a female, the male begins to feed her in order to bond and show his worthiness. Once the two mate, they then pair together for life.
The male and female cardinal look for possible nest locations as a team. Once an acceptable site is located, the female is the primary nest builder, though the male helps by bringing her materials. Male cardinals are extremely attentive mates and will feed the female throughout the entire incubation of her eggs. Males are also in charge of caring for the brood of young birds while the female incubates the next generation of eggs. The male cardinal's main task is to provide for and defend his young. He also teaches his children the unique songs passed down through generations of cardinals.
Northern cardinals are beautiful birds enjoyed by both birders and non-birders alike. Their distinctive songs and admirable devotion to their mates make them fun to watch throughout the dull winter.
Amaryllis: After years of confusion and debate, 19th-century botanists determined the genus Amaryllis included two species. The species native to South Africa was given the name amaryllis. The other, from South America, was named Hippeastrum. Apparently undeterred by the work of those prominent scientists, the American public has insisted on ignoring the first species and calling the Hippeastrum “amaryllis” throughout history.
A cousin of the daffodil, the misnamed amaryllis is a popular winter flower in the United States. Grown from a flowering bulb, it is easy to maintain and thrilling to see any of the many varieties bloom indoors in the heart of winter.
Evergreen Branch with Fruit: Americans who enjoy the warm glow of a decorated Christmas tree on cozy winter nights may credit the people of Germany.
Christmas trees were part of a Teutonic ritual. Because its foliage remained green even in the dead of winter, the Germanic tribe believed evergreens represented eternal life.
Much like St. Patrick and the clover leaf, Saint Boniface, the patron saint of Germany, is said to have used the triangular shape of the Christmas tree to explain the concept of the Trinity.
One of the first public Christmas trees was erected by German settlers in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. Fruits, nuts, flowers, candles, and baked ornaments adorned the trees.
The weight of the ornaments caused weaker branches to droop, prompting enterprising German glassblowers to produce lightweight glass balls for decorations. In 1882, Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, suggested electric lights to replace the dangerous candles.
Department stores and churches began to erect large, illuminated holiday trees around the turn of the century. Today, public tree-lightings signal the beginning of the holiday season in many cities around the world.
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