Canada issues special Eid stamp to celebrate diversity

Canadian Post issued a special Eid stamp to recognise two important festivals celebrated by Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.

The gesture seeks to celebrate the Muslim community in Canada. The stamps were unveiled to members of the Muslim communities in Montréal and in Richmond Hill, Ont., north of Toronto, according to Canadian Post press release.

The Eid stamp is one of the three new religious stamps Canada Post has announced this year to mark Canadian diversity of faiths, customs and celebrations.

Earlier in the year, Canada Post and India Post had collaborated to issue two stamps marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. One stamp from each country will be released on the same day in the fall of 2017.

Moreover, Canada Post had also announced to issue a Hanukkah stamp this year, recognising the Jewish faith’s celebration in December.

“Stamps have been a wonderful tool for us to capture our history, our heroes, our events, our accomplishments and events that have not been positive in our history but we have captured them on our stamps because history has been near and dear to Canada Post’s heart,” said Deepak Chopra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post, while addressing the ceremony.

“I often say that we are the unofficial historian of Canada.”

On the design of the stamp, Canadian Post writes “the Arabic script on the stamp reads “Eid Mubarak,” which translates to “Have a happy Eid” or “Have a blessed Eid.” It appears under a pointed arch, which symbolises the division between sacred and worldly space in Muslim culture.”

The description added, “the stamp’s deep blues and warm gold and yellows, as well as its geometric pattern, are seen in Islamic architecture. The new moon atop the stamp signifies the start of Eid.”

The 28mm by 35 mm stamp has been designed by Doreen Colonello and Erin Enns of Entro Communications and printed by Colour Innovations,