U.S. #5644
2021 58¢ A Visit From St. Nick – Santa Claus on Roof
Issue Date: October 7, 2021
First Day City: Santa Claus, IN
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 400,000,000
What would Christmas be without a reading of the classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore? In 2021, the United States Postal Service issued a set of four Forever stamps picturing scenes from the famous work. Each features an image relating to a specific line of the poem.
One stamp pictures St. Nicholas carefully making his way across the roof of a home. He has a large sack on his back and is about to go down the chimney. In Moore's poem, the narrator watches St. Nicholas fly his team of reindeer up to the roof before witnessing him come out of the fireplace. Moore was one of the earliest authors to suggest the idea of St. Nicholas going down the chimney to deliver toys. Previous traditions simply had him dropping the toys down the chimney before moving on to the next child's house.
As new advancements were made in heating homes, chimneys and fireplaces became less common. With this, the tale of St. Nicholas had to evolve as well. For example, when cast iron stoves were popular, it was said he would squeeze through the stove pipe to enter a home. Today, many parents simply leave the back door unlocked on Christmas Eve to allow St. Nicholas easy access. It just goes to show that, no matter what obstacles are in his way, St. Nick will always find a way to deliver his gifts.