About the Souvenir Sheet
The souvenir sheet with a stamp has as its main element the Christmas Star, from which words that refer to positive meanings emanate. Completing the composition, characters representing the diversity of peoples, ages, and gender were created. All the characters were positioned with their gaze directed at the Christmas Star, symbolizing the hope and feeling of fraternity that the date represents. To finish, the globe was placed as a background, bringing the idea that the Christmas feeling pervades the entire planet, being illuminated by the Christmas Star. The technique used was computer graphics.
Christmas Star
From “little angel eyes that watch over our sleep at night” to “great spheres of plasma, held in place by their own gravity,” whether the explanation fits a 3-year-old child or a researchers, the fact is that stars have always fascinated us.
Anyone who has ever been lucky enough to contemplate a starry sky, typical of those nights when it is possible to see even the path of spilled milk traced in the sky by the constellations that form the Milky Way, can understand how wonderful it feels to be covered by a dark mantle sprinkled with bright spots. Science estimates that the Milky Way alone contains between 200 and 400 billion stars.
Even in our most primordial age, we learned to use the stars, as well as other elements, to describe our beliefs and feelings. We can turn to Carl Jung’s concept of archetypes, which show that mankind has created similar meanings for certain natural elements, regardless of the time in which they lived, culture and religion they followed.
In Judaism, the hexagram that forms the Star of David represents the union between Heaven and Earth and is understood as a sign of protection; in other words, it represents the shield of David. To the gypsies, the star, besides protection, also means guidance and healing. The belief that something beyond our logical reasoning is leading us safely to a better destiny.
In Christianity, the star became one of the most emblematic symbols of Christmas when it miraculously pointed the way for Gaspar, Balthazar and Melchior, the three wise men, to the manger of the baby Jesus.
In all civilizations, the stars have always been among the most useful natural elements as a location tool, pointing the way to get where you plan to go. Orienting themselves by the constellations, since ancient times, navigators have crossed oceans and discovered new worlds, expanding the limits of the planet and enriching knowledge about humanity. The North Star in the northern hemisphere and the Southern Cross constellation in the southern hemisphere serve us to this day as route references, showing the correct directions of the cardinal points.
Whether in antiquity or in the century of modernity, the stars continue to be a source of wonder. Doing a parallel with our world of figurative senses, we can say that stars are not only about shining, but also about spreading light, illuminating. It is no coincidence that “estrela”, the Portuguese word for star, has an etymological origin in the word “espelhar”, which means reflect.
In the quest to recall the meanings of the most iconic Christmas symbol, Correios has chosen the Christmas Star as the main theme of this year’s postage stamp. A star that embraces all its meanings: the one that shines, that brings beauty and charm to our gaze to the sky, that renews our faith, and that guides us and shows us the paths we must follow. Christmas is rebirth, a time to bring out the best in each of us, to look at the other, to reflect. The Christmas star is the greatest symbol of hope for a better world.
Technical Details
Stamp issue N. 16
Art: Adriana Shibata
Print system: offset + spot UV glitter varnish + gold hot stamping
Paper: gummed chalky paper
Souvenir sheet with 1 stamp
Facial value: 5th class rate for domestic mail
Issue: 15,000 souvenir sheets
Design area: 25 x 59mm
Stamp dimensions: 25 x 59mm
Souvenir sheet dimensions: 70 x 110mm
Perforation: 12 x 11.5
Date of issue: October 31st, 2022
Places of issue: São José/SC, Bauru/SP, Brasília/DF and all state capitals, except Santa Catarina.
Printing: Brazilian Mint
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