International work-related curiosity

[sally_maria]

Since this is the first year I've been closely involved in the long-standing British tradition of special Christmas stamps (this year's designs), I've been curious to know whether this is a unique thing.

Are there special Christmas stamps where you live? Do people send calendars (this seems to be a tradition among a significant number of British people, but not one I'd actually come across before I started working for a shop that sold them)?

Are there other traditions connected with posting for Christmas?

Comments

[naraht]

The US definitely has special Christmas stamps in several different designs. Calendars are always a decently popular Christmas gift but they're not something I would specially have associated with sending through the post.

[sally_maria]

From what I can tell, they're traditional for sending overseas, because at one time sending "printed paper" was cheaper for the same weight than other items. It's not true any more, but once you've got into the habit, I suppose it saves having to think about what to buy far-flung relatives you don't know that well.

[naraht]

Ah, that makes a lot of sense. Where I live, I don't think there are enough people with relatives overseas for anything to be traditional for overseas-sending.